A global conference on ‘Taking UHC to the last citizen’ today called for harnessing the boundless potential of digital health to accelerate progress towards universal health coverage.

“Digital health is a great enabler in delivery of health care services and has the potential to support overall universal health coverage targets. India has adopted a two-pronged approach with a focus on digital health through policy framework and by creating a digital ecosystem for path-breaking interventions which focus on not just availability, accessibility, affordability but also equity of health services,” said Dr Mansukh Mandaviya, Minister of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, at the inaugural of the two-day conference here co-hosted by the Ministry and the WHO South-East Asia Regional Office.

“Digital health can significantly improve the quality, accessibility, affordability and sustainability of person centric health services and effectiveness of disease management.  Digital health is a critical imperative today as it can democratize healthcare and fast track what our Region has been working intensely towards since 2014 - the universal health coverage,” said Dr Poonam Khetrapal Singh, Regional Director WHO South-East Asia Region.

The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has particularly highlighted the importance of the application of digital technologies to health and its potential to strengthen health systems, prevent disease and enhance service delivery at the global, national and sub-national level, she said.

Read the full article about universal health coverage by Shamila Sharma at World Health Organization.