Drawing from UNDP implementation experience in delivering digital health solutions across countries, the Hub delivers technical and advisory support on various aspects of digital health. The focus is on country-led initiatives, including systems architecture and infrastructure, and the application and use of technology, aligned to World Health Organization (WHO) norms, standards, strategies and guidance.
The Hub provides expertise on data governance and mainstreaming digital into national health policies and programmes, from a public health and human rights perspective. The promotion and protection of human rights is core to the Hub’s mission. Digital solutions curated by the Hub are evidence- and rights-based, and adapted for diverse contexts.
The Hub assists UNDP Country Offices in identifying and implementing digital health solutions across a range of programme areas, including communicable and non-communicable disease control, procurement and supply chain management, health information systems, health care waste management, disease outbreak surveillance, climate-resilient health systems, and pandemic preparedness and response.
The Hub provides strategic advice and guidance on implementing digital health initiatives at scale, including on human resources, technology and infrastructure requirements, and on innovative solutions such as Smart Health Facilities. It also supports identification and procurement of appropriate open-source digital health technologies, including assessments of software design and its alignment with UNDP and WHO standards and norms. The Hub manages an up-to-date roster of digital health experts, which include in-house UNDP personnel and external experts.
In digital health, UNDP focuses on strengthening policies, capacities and institutions. The Hub promotes digital leadership among policymakers and public institutions, strengthens digital literacy of health and community workers and improves accountability, efficiency and transparency.
Leveraging the experience gained in implementation of digital health solutions in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), the Hub has a focus on solutions customized for low-resource settings. It draws from the UNDP Digital X Solution Catalogue, which has a curated set of pre-vetted digital health solutions.
In line with the UNDP Knowledge Strategy, the Hub supports learning on digital health, and develops, collates, analyses and disseminates knowledge on UNDP digital health work across its network of Country Offices, regional hubs and global teams.
The Hub maintains an interactive website that contains a database of UNDP initiatives on digital health, which tracks good practice and scalable digital health solutions implemented by UNDP Country Offices.
The Hub manages a wealth of curated content, such as policy briefs, case studies, guidelines, toolkits, research studies, etc. The Hub also serves as a repository of digital health resources from partners such as WHO, fostering knowledge exchange among policymakers, practitioners and researchers.
The Hub also provides thought leadership on ethical, responsible and rights-based application of digital technology in health, including on AI and data privacy and security.
The Hub catalyses South-South cooperation across UNDP Country Offices for peer learning and mentorship on digital health. For example, UNDP has supported the implementation of digital platforms for routine immunization and COVID-19 vaccination programmes in India, and through South-South approaches has facilitated the transfer of this digital health knowledge and technical know-how between India and Indonesia, Malawi and Bhutan. Through such South-South exchange and collaboration, both Indonesia and Bhutan have implemented digital systems for COVID-19 vaccination and Malawi is working towards digitizing health facilities for the delivery of health commodities.
The Hub facilitates continuous learning and sharing of knowledge, expertise and good practice on digital health with diverse audiences organized with UNDP’s HIV and Health Community of Practice. To promote and advocate the scale up of digital health with governments, donors, academia, the UN, civil society and other stakeholders, the Hub leverages UNDP’s communications and social media capacities.
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