“Digital Health Diplomacy” in Global Digital Health? A call for critique and discourse

Abstract

Actualizing the vision of Global Digital Health is a central issue on the Global Health Diplomacy agenda. The COVID-reinforced need for accelerated digital health progress will require political structures and processes to build a foundation for Global Digital Health. Simultaneously, Global Health Diplomacy uses digital technologies in its enactment. Both phenomena have driven interest in the term “Digital Health Diplomacy.” A review of the literature revealed 2 emerging but distinct definitions that have been published very recently, each with its associated discourse and practice. This multiplicity of ideas demonstrates the myriad ways in which global digital and political systems are becoming increasingly entangled. Untangling these, this paper proposes and discusses 3 dimensions of Digital Health Diplomacy: “Diplomacy for digital health,” “Digital health for diplomacy,” and “Digital health in diplomacy.” It calls upon digital health professionals, diplomats, political and social scientists, epidemiologists, and clinicians to discuss, critique, and advance this emerging domain.

Towards Equitable and Resilient Digital Primary Care Systems: An International Comparison and Insight for Moving Forward

“…As the sociotechnical maturity and associated traits such as dependability, resilience, and agility of digital health systems improves, so will the ability to deal not only with an epidemic/ pandemic but also the monitoring and management of long-term sequelae such as "long covid" and other chronic diseases. Perhaps a transparent approach emphasising mutual trust and reciprocity will then facilitate international digital health diplomacy [37] to achieve a treaty to underpin a truly global and equitable response to future pandemics that "leaves no one behind" [38].…”

Digital Marketing: A Unique Multidisciplinary Approach towards the Elimination of Viral Hepatitis

“…The COVID-19 pandemic has not only accelerated the digitalization of the health sector but also added new concepts by the introduction of digital vaccination passports, a series of nexuses such as the "Diplomacy for digital health," "Digital health for diplomacy," and "Digital health in diplomacy". These developments have become more widespread on a global scale [114,[116][117][118][119]. Undoubtedly, the COVID-19 pandemic was an important scene for the development and implementation of digital marketing tools, including social media and mobile apps, for health-related issues at a global level.…”

Digital vaccine passports and digital health diplomacy: an online model WHO simulation

“…40 , 49 In the context of DHD, such knowledge sharing may help avoid reliance on donor nations in the global north who may skew policy agendas to their interests. 7 …”

“… 7 The WHO Global Strategy for Digital Health (2020–25) calls for “ mechanisms for more effective public participation and transparency in national and international digital health decision-making processes, such as through international consultation processes or a stakeholder forum ”. In a previous paper, we recognized the concept of Digital Health Diplomacy (DHD) as a type of Science diplomacy, 7 we can relate to the Madrid Declaration for Science diplomacy which recommends (1) creating interactive spaces, (2) promoting bi-directional science and diplomacy fluency; (3) engaging the full spectrum of science; (4) ensuring open and interpretable science for diplomacy; and (5) exerting bold values-based leadership. 8 These recommendations mirror those made by the WHO Global Strategy for Digital Health (2020–25), highlighting the need for interactive spaces to advance DHD.…”