As the World Bank Group Spring Meetings take place in Washington, D.C. this week, ECHAlliance – The Global Health Connector – is seizing the opportunity to spotlight the critical role of digital health innovation in driving sustainable, inclusive health systems. With leaders from government, finance, technology, and development convening, this is a pivotal moment to align digital infrastructure with global health needs.
While recognising the World Bank’s ongoing efforts to expand healthcare access, ECHAlliance prioritises the urgent conversation around Regional Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) and its potential to bridge digital divides, support small and medium enterprises, and empower communities worldwide.
Key figures from the Global Health Connector Council are actively engaged in high-level discussions and side events this week, including the roundtable on Global Flagship Initiative for Food Security Roundtable hosted by the Arab Gulf Development Fund (AGFUND), the Roundtable on Advancing Science in Africa: Health Research for Development the event Innovation-Driven Solutions: Exploring Alignment for Regional Digital Public Infrastructure That Spans Digital Divides on 25 April.
The Global Health Connector fully supports the World Bank Group’s ambitious plan to deliver quality, affordable health services to 1.5 billion people by 2030.
Announced in April 2024, this bold strategy focuses on:
- Expanding focus from maternal and child health to include coverage throughout a person’s lifetime, including non-communicable diseases.
- Expanding operations to hard-to-reach areas, including remote villages, cities, and countries.
- Working with governments to cut unnecessary fees and other financial barriers to health care.
With 2 billion people currently facing severe financial hardship in accessing health services, this integrated approach is urgent and necessary.
The Global Health Connector supports this global vision and reaffirms its commitment to connecting ecosystems, aligning global innovation with regional priorities, and accelerating progress toward equitable, sustainable health systems worldwide.
As the World Bank Spring Meetings take place in Washington, D.C. this week, the Global Health Connector actively participates in high-level discussions focused on aligning health, science, and finance. Chair Brian O’Connor joins key side events alongside Declan Kirrane, Chair of the UN Science Summit. Other Global Health Connector Council members, Dr Amit Thakker, Chair of Africa Health Business (AHB) and Ann Mond Johnson, President of ATA, are onworking with Declan and Brian in this important week in DC.
One of the main events, Innovation-Driven Solutions: Exploring Alignment for Regional Digital Public Infrastructure That Spans Digital Divides, will take place on April 25th. It will bring together government, finance, technology, and development leaders to explore how Regional Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) can support MSMES, enhance coordination, and scale digital inclusion.
Declan Kirrane remarked:
“I have believed for a long time that it is essential to connect Science, Health and Finance and partnering with the Global Health Connector and its Global Ecosystem Network is accelerating that process.”
Brian O’Connor added:
“As I have started to learn about the many parallel tracks in Science and Finance, I am reminded that our key objective in the Global Health Connector is to Connect the Dots Globally in Health. I realise now that not only we have to continue our work in Health, but we also must align the Science and Finance Tracks.”
This week’s discussions are a valuable reminder that real progress happens when sectors listen to one another and work together. At ECHAlliance The Global Health Connector, we remain committed to connecting people, ideas and systems to help make health more accessible, inclusive and sustainable.
