GIDH’s mission is to improve alignment in the digital health sector, providing governments and partners tools, building blocks, and platforms needed for sustainable health system digitalization. This aligns closely with DTH-Lab’s work to drive inclusive and equitable digital transformations of health with a focus on low- and middle-income countries.
DTH-Lab has been supporting GIDH since its launch in February 2024. In March 2024, we co-hosted a Geneva Stakeholder meeting bringing together key representative working at the intersection of global health and digital governance. This meeting resulted in a statement on advancing equitable digital health futures for all.
DTH-Lab Executive Director, Aferdita Bytyqi, said: “To join GIDH, we had to demonstrate that DTH-Lab contributes significantly to the advancement of public health and the objectives of GIDH. Our membership reflects our cutting-edge research, our expertise in putting policy into action, our work to strengthen youth leadership and our ability to shape the public and political agenda.”
We look forward to collaborating with countries and partners towards country-led and standards based digital health transformation aligned with GIDH’s guiding principles.
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Ilona Kickbusch is the Director of the DTH-Lab. She is a visiting professor at the University of Geneva, the founding director, chair and senior distinguished fellow of the Global Health Centre at the Geneva Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies. She is known throughout the world for her expertise and is a sought after senior adviser and key note speaker. Her areas of expertise include the determinants of health, health in all policies, and global health governance. She advises countries on their global health strategies, trains health specialists, and is involved in German G7 and G20 health activities. She publishes widely and serves on various commissions and boards. She has been awarded the Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany (Bundesverdienstkreuz) in recognition of her invaluable contributions to innovation in governance for global health and global health diplomacy. She has also been awarded the WHO Medal in recognition of her contribution to global health.
Aferdita Bytyqi is the Executive Director of the DTH-Lab ensuring the success of overall project goals and strategic objectives of the DTH-Lab both internally and with key external stakeholders within the global health ecosystem. With a career spanning over 25 years, she brings a wealth of progressive programmatic experience in spearheading international research, development, and regeneration initiatives on behalf of multilateral and bilateral agencies, as well as private donors. Her previous professional contributions include ICS Integrare, MBM, FAO, WHO and the Senior Coordinator of the Lancet and Financial Times Commission. Aferdita has a Dipl. Ing in Architecture and an M.Sc. in Urban Design in Development from UCL.
