The World Health Organization (WHO) and the European Commission announced a significant partnership to establish the WHO Global Digital Health Certification Network (GDHCN), leveraging the EU’s Digital COVID Certificate system.
Partnership Details
Ms. Stella Kyriakides, Commissioner for Health and Food Safety, described the partnership as a key milestone in the EU Global Health Strategy’s digital action plan.
“By using European best practices, we contribute to digital health standards and interoperability globally to the benefit of those most in need,” she said.
The collaboration will involve the European Commission’s technical expertise in developing, managing, and implementing the GDHCN, starting with ensuring the continued functionality of existing EU digital certificates.
Global Health System Goals
The WHO will adopt the EU’s digital COVID-19 certification system in June 2023 to create a global framework that facilitates international mobility and protects against ongoing and future health threats, including pandemics.
Dr. Tedros Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General, stated, “The aim of the new digital health products is to enable people worldwide to receive quality health services promptly and efficiently.”
The WHO plans to provide all Member States with an open-source digital health tool, guided by principles of equity, innovation, transparency, and data protection.
EU Digital COVID Certificate’s Role
Mr. Thierry Breton, Commissioner for Internal Market, highlighted the EU Digital COVID Certificate (EU DCC) as a global standard, connected to 80 countries and territories.
The EU DCC, established to combat the COVID-19 pandemic and facilitate safe travel within the EU, uses open-source technologies and standards, enabling integration with non-EU countries.
Breton noted its role in supporting international travel and tourism and expressed satisfaction that the WHO will build on its privacy-preserving principles and technology to create a global tool for future pandemics.
Strategic Cooperation
The partnership builds on an agreement signed on November 30, 2022, between the WHO and the EU to strengthen strategic cooperation on global health matters, reinforcing a multilateral system with the WHO at its core and supported by a robust EU.
