DTH-Lab is putting young people at the centre of digital first health systems (DFHS). Building on our online global youth consultations, we’ve now gathered regional insights from over 300 youth under 30 across 80 countries.
Through this latest round of regional and national-level consultations, young people have continued to construct a unified vision of the health future they want to see and what DFHS can provide in meeting their health needs – particularly in their priority health areas: mental health and sexual and reproductive health. Youth were clear that DFHS must respond to current challenges while supporting lifelong health and well-being.
The report presents findings from 16 youth co-creation workshops and focus groups, revealing what young people in different regions and from specific interest groups have identified as universally agreed values that must be included in digital first health systems. These regional perspectives highlight both shared priorities and unique challenges, giving stakeholders a clearer picture of what works for diverse youth communities.
The report is a key step towards creating a global DFHS blueprint, translating youth voices into practical guidance for policymakers, technology companies and health leaders.
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Louise Holly has more than 20 years’ experience of global policy analysis, research and evidence-based advocacy focused on advancing the health and rights of children, adolescents and youth.
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Louise Holly has more than 20 years’ experience of global policy analysis, research and evidence-based advocacy focused on advancing the health and rights of children, adolescents and youth. Following roles with Save the Children and UNICEF, Louise worked as an independent consultant for several years supporting the Lancet and Financial Times Commission on Governing Health Futures 2030 and other organizations including Transform Health and PMNCH. In July 2023, Louise became the Policy and Research Coordinator at the DTH-Lab where she coordinates the consortium’s knowledge generation, analysis and policy influencing work.
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.
Professor Anurag Agrawal is Dean, BioSciences and Health Research, Trivedi School of Biosciences, Ashoka University, India, and former director of the Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology, a national laboratory of CSIR, India. After completing graduate medical education at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Delhi, he further trained in Internal Medicine, Pulmonary Disease and Critical Care at Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, USA, followed by a PhD in Physiology from Delhi University. His primary research is in respiratory biology and broader interests are in a new vision of health and healthcare seen through the lenses of emerging technologies. He serves on numerous national and global advisory groups, recently chairing the World Health Organization technical advisory group for SARS CoV2 viral evolution, the Lancet-Financial Times commission for governing digital health futures, and serving on the pandemic preparedness subgroup at the Global Partnership for Artificial Intelligence. He received the Shanti Swaroop Bhatnagar Prize in 2014, the Sun Pharma Foundation award in 2020, and is a fellow of the Indian national science and medical academies.
Climate Change| Communicable Diseases | AMR | SRHR
Salman Khan is a dedicated public health advocate with over seven years of leadership in youth-led initiatives. He holds a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) from Grant Government Medical College, Mumbai, India. His work spans critical areas like non-communicable diseases (NCDs), antimicrobial resistance (AMR), climate change and health, and health systems strengthening. Salman has represented medical students on global platforms, including the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), World Health Organization (WHO), and United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (UN CSW). With experience at local, national, and international levels, Salman has held key roles in multiple NGOs, including the International Federation of Medical Students’ Associations (IFMSA), as the Director of the Standing Committee on Public Health and Liaison Officer for Public Health Issues, leading campaigns that impacted over 120 countries.
