WHO, EU create digital health certificate for Nigeria, others 2023

The WHO and European Commission established a major digital health alliance.

This agreement establishes the WHO Global Digital Health Certification Network (GDHCN), they said on Monday.

What they said

This alliance is a major step in the EU Global Health Strategy’s digital action plan, according to Commissioner Stella Kyriakides.

• European best practices help global digital health standards and interoperability for the most vulnerable.
• It also shows how EU-WHO cooperation may improve health worldwide.
• The WHO is the best partner to enhance our EU efforts as the worldwide health authority.
• Kyriakides stated it will advance global digital health solutions.

Kyriakides noted that the alliance will use the European Commission’s technical knowledge to collaborate on the WHO GDHCN system’s development, administration, and implementation. She said the first step is maintaining EU digital certifications.

Globalizing healthcare

The WHO will implement the EU digital COVID-19 certification system in June 2023 to create a global system that allows international movement and protects people from health dangers, including pandemics.

Dr. Tedros Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General, stated that the new digital health products in development seek to provide excellent health services worldwide quickly and effectively.

He said WHO will provide all Member States an open-source digital health platform based on equity, innovation, transparency, and data protection.

Pandemic fighting with the EU digital certificate

Following the November 30, 2022 agreement, this project is based on the EU and WHO Global Health Strategy on digital health.

The two organizations pledged to expand strategic collaboration on global health issues, bolstering a strong multilateral framework with the WHO at its center and a strong EU.

With 80 nations and territories connected, the EU Digital COVID-19 Certificate has set a worldwide standard, according to Internal Market Commissioner Thierry Breton.

Breton noted that the EU certificate has helped fight the epidemic and promote international travel.

He was glad the WHO will use the EU certificate’s privacy-protecting standards and cutting-edge technology to establish a worldwide pandemic tool.

The statement highlighted the EU’s use of digital COVID certifications to fight the epidemic.

The EU quickly created interoperable COVID-19 certificates, called the “EU Digital COVID Certificate” or “EU DCC,” to allow free movement inside its borders. The EU DCC became the most frequently utilized solution worldwide by integrating non-EU countries generating certificates to its requirements using open-source technology and standards.