Addressing The Fundamental Digital Infrastructure Gap In Digital Health Interventions: An Issue Of Health Equity

Fundamental digital infrastructures, such as electricity, connectivity, and roads, are crucial assets to ensure health access and equity. However, these infrastructures often fall beyond the scope of ministries of health and health donors. When left unaddressed, weak digital infrastructures can leave the most vulnerable disconnected from services that can support their health and well-being, and further health and digital divides. We need new frames to understand and respond the importance of fundamental digital infrastructures for health equity. In this side event, the Global Health Centre, the Lancet & Financial Times Commission on Governing health futures 2030, and Digital Square bring together government leaders and community voices to discuss the role of digital infrastructures as digital determinants of health and provide insights on the funding landscape and relevant stakeholders, suggesting a way forward to navigate these gaps through digital health interventions. SPEAKERS

• Samuel Roger Kamba, Special Advisor, Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo
• Danielle Mullings, Americas Representative, YET4H; President Elect, UWI Mona Guild of Students
• Pablo Orefice, Director, Uruguay’s Digital Health Initiative, Salud.uy
• Gulsen Guler, Director of Research and Learning, Civic Software Foundation; Co-chair, Literacy Group, MyData Global
• Ann Aerts, Head, Novartis Foundation
• Yodahe Zemichael, Office of the Prime Minister Ethiopia
• Akiko Maeda, Global Health Policy Specialist
• Riccardo Lampariello, Head of Health Programme, Terre des hommes Foundation
• Skye Gilbert, Executive Director, Digital Square
• Moderator: Ilona Kickbusch, Co-chair, Lancet & Financial Times Commission