“The Global Initiative on Digital Health will align with WHO’s Global Strategy on Digital Health and strengthen other related efforts,” Dr Tedros said in his address at the G20 Health Ministers meeting at Gandhinagar

In his opening remarks at the G20 Health Ministers meeting held on Friday at Gandhinagar in Gujarat, WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus asked member states to embrace the Global Initiative on Digital Health and emphasized the need for inclusive dialogue on the interim mechanism for medical countermeasures.

“I seek your continued support for the Joint Finance-Health Task Force, to complete its work on surge financing and economic vulnerabilities to pandemics, and to continue the collaboration to address other challenges,” WHO Director-General said. “I seek your commitment to negotiating a comprehensive pandemic accord that encompasses all the lessons of the pandemic, so that we never repeat the same mistakes again.”

He also sought continued support for the Joint Finance-Health Task Force to address economic vulnerabilities to pandemics.

Dr Tedros stressed the importance of a comprehensive pandemic accord to avoid repeating past mistakes.

“Time is of the essence, with the accord scheduled to be considered by the World Health Assembly next year,” he remarked, highlighting the urgency of the situation.

Despite COVID-19 no longer being a global health emergency, Dr Tedros underlined its persistent threat. He referred to the recent classification of the BA.2.86 variant as a monitored variant to emphasize the ongoing importance of global surveillance.

“The lessons from COVID-19 underscore the interconnectedness of health and overall well-being,” Dr Tedros said.

WHO chief thanked India for its leadership and hospitality during its G20 Presidency, commending the nation’s commitment to universal health coverage through initiatives like Ayushman Bharat, the world’s largest health insurance scheme.

Dr Tedros praised digital health advancements witnessed during his visit to a health and wellness center in Gujarat, India. “Digital technologies are transforming health, locally and globally,” he said, adding the potential of telemedicine to provide consultations and prescriptions online will ultimately enhancing healthcare accessibility.

“The Global Initiative on Digital Health will align with WHO’s Global Strategy on Digital Health and strengthen other related efforts,” Dr Tedros said.

Dr Tedros pointed out WHO’s role in strengthening pandemic preparedness and response through various initiatives, including the Pandemic Fund, WHO Hub for Pandemic and Epidemic Intelligence, WHO BioHub system, Global Health Emergency Corps, and the Universal Health and Preparedness Review.