EU and WHO Partner to Enhance Digital Health Transformation in Africa

Strategic Insights -

The World Health Organization (WHO) and the European Union (EU) have announced a new agreement to support the digital transformation of health systems in sub-Saharan Africa. This partnership aims to improve pandemic preparedness and accelerate progress towards better health and well-being for all through the adoption of WHO's Global Digital Health Certification Network (GDHCN). The agreement includes an €8 million EU grant spanning 2025 to 2028 to bolster national efforts to advance digital health systems.

The GDHCN is a global system that enables countries to securely and reliably verify nationally approved digital health credentials across borders. The system builds on the European Union Digital COVID Certificate (EU DCC), which facilitated verification of vaccination, testing, and recovery certification for international travelers connecting 76 countries and territories. However, only four countries from the WHO African Region were able to join the EU DCC network. Since its transfer to the WHO in 2023, the GDHCN has shown strong potential to support the digitization of the International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis (ICVP), commonly known as the Yellow Card, in alignment with the updated International Health Regulations (IHR). The system aims to enhance global vaccination tracking, reduce fraud, and simplify international health requirements.

Key Takeaways:

  • The EU and WHO have partnered to support the digital transformation of health systems in sub-Saharan Africa through the adoption of the Global Digital Health Certification Network (GDHCN).
  • The partnership aims to improve pandemic preparedness and accelerate progress towards better health and well-being for all.
  • The GDHCN is a global system that enables countries to securely and reliably verify nationally approved digital health credentials across borders.
  • The system builds on the European Union Digital COVID Certificate (EU DCC), which facilitated verification of vaccination, testing, and recovery certification for international travelers connecting 76 countries and territories.
  • Only four countries from the WHO African Region were able to join the EU DCC network.
  • The GDHCN has shown strong potential to support the digitization of the International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis (ICVP), commonly known as the Yellow Card.
  • The partnership will include technical and policy expertise from WHO, collaboration with regional partners such as the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), and an €8 million EU grant spanning 2025 to 2028.

Statistics:

  • €8 million EU grant to support digital transformation of health systems in sub-Saharan Africa
  • 76 countries and territories that were connected through the European Union Digital COVID Certificate (EU DCC)
  • 4 countries from the WHO African Region that were able to join the EU DCC network
  • 2023: The year the Global Digital Health Certification Network (GDHCN) was transferred to the WHO
  • 2025-2028: The duration of the EU grant to support digital transformation of health systems in sub-Saharan Africa

Sources:

  • World Health Organization (WHO)
  • European Union (EU)
  • APO Group