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Panel
titleFebruary 20, 2025

review the meeting recording here: https://iu.mediaspace.kaltura.com/media/t/1_kmk9vswy?st=35

🧭 Meeting Overview

  • Context: The group gathered to address the recent disruption caused by the sudden withdrawal or reduction of U.S. government aid in digital/global health initiatives.

  • Tone: Open, honest, and solution-focused dialogue centered on sustainability, national ownership, and collaboration.

  • Purpose: To share personal experiences, challenges, and opportunities arising from the funding shift, and to propose actionable steps forward..

🧠 Themes & Insights

🔧 Resilience & Ownership

  • Many countries are striving to take charge of digital health systems and not rely entirely on external aid.

  • Importance of government leadership, strategic planning, and resource allocation.

🚨 Crisis as Catalyst

  • This funding disruption is a wake-up call and an opportunity to shift toward local control and sustainability.

🤝 Collaboration & Learning

  • Calls for deeper collaboration across countries and organizations, especially within the Global South.

  • Willingness to share tools, strategies, and lessons.

💰 Financial Models

  • Recognition of the need to rethink funding models.

  • Proposals for diversified financing, including domestic resources and new philanthropic partners.

💬 Proposed Actions

  • Compile a collective report capturing these experiences.

  • Advocate through regional forums and institutions.

  • Push for digital health to be recognized and budgeted at national levels.

  • Strengthen internal capacities through training and system simplification.

✅ Emerging Action Items

  1. Develop a formal report summarizing the meeting’s findings and proposals.

  2. Promote domestic digital health investment and integrate digital health into national budgets.

  3. Encourage country ownership by redefining terms of collaboration with implementing partners.

  4. Conduct national needs assessments for digital health systems.

  5. Share existing tools and frameworks for sustainability evaluation.

  6. Support cross-country mentorship and experience sharing (South-South collaboration).


Panel
titleMarch 20, 2025

Review the recording here: https://iu.mediaspace.kaltura.com/media/t/1_8pl5ptes

The meeting began with informal greetings and discussions before transitioning to updates from participants across regions. Thomas, the country director for Data.FI in Botswana, described the halt in eHealth implementations due to an aid freeze. Innocent shared Zambia’s challenges with disrupted health systems and uneven project handovers, emphasizing the need for ministry-led sustainability efforts. Daniel and Esteban from Latin America reflected on differing funding dynamics, highlighting the importance of public-private partnerships and self-sufficiency amid declining aid. Chile’s experience demonstrated the role of academia and consistent political support in advancing digital health. Comparisons were drawn to Africa, where digital transformation has roots in HIV-related funding but remains under-prioritized. Steve questioned the sector’s perceived value and stressed reframing its importance for political support. Paul and others discussed how automation and international advocacy could help leaders see digital transformation as cost-effective and essential. The group agreed on the importance of structured, strategic conversations, leveraging global support, and using this forum to push for sustainable, locally led digital health initiatives.


Panel
titleApril 17, 2025

Review the recording here: https://iu.mediaspace.kaltura.com/media/t/1_e5rmkhjf?st=408

Participants discussed progress on digital health implementation, particularly around Health Information Exchange (HIE) and the need for national standards and governance. Rosemary (WHO-HQ) emphasized supporting clinical decision-making through data and shared updates on guideline development, while Hassan highlighted Somalia’s challenges with standardization and interest in developing a country HIE profile. Esteban and Paul contributed technical and strategic guidance, with a plan to reconvene the eHealth leaders in person later in the year.

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