Group photo courtesy of Transform Health
Geneva, Switzerland – Transform Health, a partner of the Asia eHealth Information Network (AeHIN), hosted a side event titled “Stronger Health Data Governance through Country Leadership & Consensus” during the 77th World Health Assembly (WHA) held at the InterContinental Hotel on May 28, 2024.
The side event was co-hosted by the Ministries of Health (MoH) of Cameroon, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, and the Maldives, along with the Council of Ministers of Health of Central America and the Dominican Republic (COMISCA). The goal was to bring together health data governance experts and country leaders to foster consensus for strong legislation and regulation.
AeHIN was one of the supporting partners of this side event and facilitated the participation of MoH representatives from the Asia region. AeHIN Executive Director Jai Ganesh Udayasankaran spoke in a panel session involving regional networks.
The session centered on the Health Data Governance Draft Model Law, introduced by Kirsten Mathieson, Deputy Director and Policy Lead at Transform Health. The Draft Model Law provides core elements, legislative guidance, and reference legal text designed to support governments in establishing strong health data governance frameworks.
Udayasankaran shared AeHIN’s involvement since the drafting of Health Data Governance Principles and subsequent developments that followed in the Asia region. He also presented the findings and feedback gathered via in-country dialogues and regional consultation on the Draft Model Law conducted by AeHIN on April 19, 2024. He emphasized the need for continuous and consistent engagement with the policy makers given that the evolution of such regulations and legislation takes time and requires sustained support and leadership. He further highlighted the relevance of supporting countries with examples, use cases, and best practices, which might be helpful in tailoring to the local needs based on the country’s context and priorities.
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