The WHO will obtain the European Union’s digital COVID-19 accreditation to implement a global digital health system for ongoing and future health threats.
On Monday, the European Commission and the World Health Organization (W.H.O.) announced a digital health partnership to globalize the digital vaccine passport-style system developed by Brussels during the COVID-19 pandemic.
This month, the World Health Organization and the European Union have formed a new partnership. The EU’s digital COVID-19 certification system will be the first building block of the W.H.O.’s Global Digital Health Certification Network (GDHCN). The GDHCN will introduce various digital products to prevent future pandemics.
Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the WHO, announced that an open-source digital health tool would be made available to all WHO member states. The device will be based on equity, innovation, transparency, data protection, and privacy principles. The development of new digital health solutions can benefit people worldwide.
The European Commission and the World Health Organization believe that expanding digital solutions is crucial for improving global health. They intend to utilize the system to address more use cases. A possible use case is to digitize the International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis.
The two organizations agreed to work together to promote global participation in their digital health program, focusing on low- and middle-income countries that require monitoring the most.
According to Thierry Breton, the EU Commissioner for Internal Market, the EU Digital COVID Certificate has been recognized in approximately 80 nations and territories, and he believes that the EU has established a global standard. Breton has been a strong advocate for Europe’s anti-free speech online campaign. The EU certificate has been beneficial in fighting the epidemic and has also provided new possibilities for foreign tourists.
One expert expressed satisfaction that the W.H.O. will create a worldwide tool to combat future pandemics using the EU certificate’s privacy-protecting principles and advanced technology.
Others are not so sure.
