WHO Academy Empowers Countries to Build Digital Health Capacity

From electronic medical records and telemedicine to artificial intelligence (AI) and data-driven disease surveillance, digital innovation is revolutionizing healthcare delivery.

As digital technologies reshape healthcare systems worldwide, the World Health Organization (WHO) is stepping up efforts to ensure that innovation supports equity and resilience, particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Through the WHO Academy, the organization is equipping national leaders and health policymakers with the skills to guide digital transformation in alignment with national health priorities.

From electronic medical records and telemedicine to artificial intelligence (AI) and data-driven disease surveillance, digital innovation is revolutionizing healthcare delivery. Yet, this rapid evolution presents a paradox: while digital health initiatives multiply, many remain fragmented, poorly coordinated, or disconnected from national strategies, especially in resource-constrained settings.

Without coherent governance and skilled leadership, experts warn, digital transformation could exacerbate inequalities, leaving rural and underserved communities behind. To prevent this outcome, WHO is prioritizing capacity building, policy coherence, and institutional leadership across member states.

“Digital health must be a tool for inclusion, not division,” said a WHO official. “Our focus is to help countries build the governance structures and human capital needed to make technology serve everyone—no matter where they live.”

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A Global Initiative to Strengthen Digital Health Systems

In collaboration with the Organisation internationale de la Francophonie (OIF), the WHO Academy has launched the Digital Health: Planning for National Systems course for Francophone countries across Africa and the Eastern Mediterranean region.

The course, which began with 60 technical experts from 16 countries, is designed to empower health ministry leaders, policy advisers, and technical officers with the knowledge and frameworks necessary to develop and implement national digital health strategies.

Participants undergo a 12-week blended training program that combines:

• 12 hours of self-paced online learning, allowing flexibility for working professionals.

• 12 live sessions (90 minutes each), featuring interactive discussions, group exercises, and peer exchanges.

To date, the course has already reached over 200 participants across English-, French-, and Portuguese-speaking countries, signaling growing demand for high-quality digital health leadership training.

“The course gave me a better understanding of how to plan digital health interventions in the context of LMICs, based on health system challenges and identifying the right applications,” said Maurice Ye, Health Cluster Coordinator in Antananarivo, Madagascar.

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Building National Capacity for Digital Health Governance

The WHO Academy’s training emphasizes strategic planning, interoperability, and governance, ensuring countries can build integrated digital ecosystems rather than isolated pilot projects. Participants learn to assess national readiness, align technologies with public health priorities, and develop robust frameworks for data privacy, cybersecurity, and ethical AI use.

In many LMICs, fragmented donor-driven projects and insufficient regulatory capacity have hindered progress. WHO’s initiative aims to replace ad hoc approaches with coordinated national strategies that ensure digital investments contribute to universal health coverage (UHC).

By guiding policymakers in designing frameworks that combine innovation with accountability, WHO helps countries ensure that every technological advancement supports better health outcomes, stronger institutions, and greater trust in digital systems.

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Guided by the Global Strategy on Digital Health

The initiative is anchored in the Global Strategy on Digital Health (2020–2025), WHO’s roadmap to help countries develop sustainable, people-centered digital health ecosystems. The strategy advocates for national leadership, interoperability, and inclusivity, ensuring digital solutions are adapted to local contexts rather than imported wholesale.

The WHO Academy’s approach aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)—particularly SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being) and SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure)—by strengthening countries’ ability to leverage digital innovation for resilient, equitable, and affordable healthcare.

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Collaboration and Future Expansion

The partnership between WHO and OIF reflects a shared commitment to linguistic inclusivity and regional cooperation. By delivering training in multiple languages, the Academy ensures that Francophone, Lusophone, and Anglophone health professionals can all access high-quality digital education resources.

The program will continue to expand in 2025 and beyond, integrating additional modules on AI governance, data ethics, telehealth policy, and climate-resilient digital infrastructure. Plans are underway to extend training opportunities to Asia-Pacific, Latin America, and small island developing states, ensuring that digital transformation benefits every region equitably.

“Digital health is not just about technology—it’s about people, systems, and governance,” said a WHO Academy spokesperson. “Our goal is to help countries build strong foundations for the digital future of health.”

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Toward Equitable and Sustainable Digital Transformation

By investing in leadership and national capacity, WHO’s initiative is turning digital innovation into a driver of equity, not exclusion. Strengthening national systems ensures that digital tools—from mobile health apps to AI diagnostics—are effectively governed, ethically deployed, and accessible to all.

As the digital health revolution continues to unfold, WHO’s work demonstrates that strategic capacity building is key to transforming innovation into sustainable progress. The effort represents a critical step toward ensuring that “health for all” includes digital health for all—bridging divides, not deepening them.