Dublin, Ireland and Belfast, UK, 10 May, 2021 – The European Connected Health Alliance (ECHAlliance) today announced the formation of the Global Health Connector Partnership (GHCP), a consortium of organisations committed to improving health and care for citizens worldwide through the appropriate use of digital technologies.
The following organisations join ECHAlliance as founders of the GCHP; American Telemedicine Association (ATA) and HLTH from the United States, The Health Parlament from India, African Health Business (ABH), Commonwealth Centre for Digital Health (CWCDH),The Digital Health Society (DHS) and the European Connected Health Alliance (ECHAlliance).
With members on five continents, GCHP came together initially to explore immediate solutions to the COVID-19 pandemic and is formalizing for the long-term pursuit of digital technology solutions to shared problems in healthcare access, delivery and outcomes.
“The Partnership grew out of longstanding relationships, deciding to share and work together, and a realisation that together we can do so much more,” said Brian O’Connor, Chair of the GHCP Council. “All of us are dedicated to improving health and care for citizens globally, but realise there is sometimes well meaning talk with little action. We are about doing.”
GCHP will define areas of work via aligned strategic goals to achieve efficiency and impact. The intrinsic cooperative spirit between GHCP founders will allow partners to reach consensus on issues that impact all. GCHP’s Council of founding organisations meets regularly to discuss the needs of the partnership and its respective communities and has formed Action Groups to deliver services and proposals in the areas of Ecosystems; Funding Projects and Partnerships; Events and Communications Activities; as well as subject matter groups related to areas of global interest, such as Health Data and Skills for Health.
“Digital transformation of healthcare is a global phenomenon with nations facing many common challenges, while at the same time technology, healthcare and public health expertise may differ regionally,” said Rich Scarfo, Council member and President of HLTH. “GHCP will accelerate digital transformation of healthcare and public health via knowledge sharing across borders. HLTH will contribute to the Connector as the annual face-to-face platform for Connector members–hosting the first Global Health Connector Summit at HLTH’s 2021 event–and as a strategic advisor to the Council,” he said.
“As we’ve learned over the past year, a global pandemic requires a global response. Healthcare delivery around the world has changed overnight and the need for digital health technologies has been made quite clear. For the greater good of society and the health of our global citizens, the ATA is pleased to participate in the GHCP, to actively collaborate and collectively create solutions to solve our most vexing healthcare challenges,” said Ann Mond Johnson, CEO, the ATA.
George Crooks, Chief Executive Officer at Digital Health and Care Institute said: “It has never been more important for us collaborate, share knowledge, experience and lessons learned as we seek to innovate, design and build health and care services to meet the current and future challenges being faced by our fellow citizens. The global health connector partnership is an ideal vehicle for those if us involved in the delivery of digital services to work together and seek to make a positive difference.“
The Global Health Connector Partnership (GCHP) is a consortium of international organisations brought together by the European Connected Health Alliance (ECHAlliance) and allied in working together to share knowledge and find common solutions for efficient use of digital technologies to improve healthcare delivery, access and outcomes across the globe. Learn more about the GHCP here.
