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FIND’s intervention on Promoting Digital and Technological Innovations and productivity in the health and care workforce at Plenary Session 3 of the 3rd G20 Health Working Group meeting

G20

Delivered by Dorcas Mapondera
9 May 2025

FIND welcomes South Africa’s leadership in advancing digital and technological innovation to strengthen the health and care workforce. As emphasized in the WHO Global Strategy on Digital Health 2020–2025, digital tools are vital for expanding access to quality, affordable, and equitable healthcare.

FIND’s digital health strategy focuses on supporting health workers across the diagnostic pathway with fit-for-purpose tools, capacity building, and timely data to improve patient care and public health response. In Kenya and Rwanda, we’ve deployed community-based digital screening tools that enable detection of TB, malaria and pneumonia. To improve and optimize access to diagnostic services in Kenya, we are supporting the development of an electronic system for tracking of laboratory specimens. In Ethiopia and Madagascar, we are enhancing portable readers to help frontline workers interpret malaria tests more effectively. We’re also evaluating AI-powered diagnostic tools, and promoting clinical decision support systems, digital apps and data standard frameworks that guide workflows, improve data use, and support frontline decision-making.

These examples reflect our broader belief that digital health solutions must empower, not burden health workers. To accelerate this vision, we call on G20 countries to:

  1. Integrate digital health and AI tools into national strategies for health, education, ICT, and workforce to ensure they are sustainably funded and have lasting impact.
  2. Promote responsible development and scaling of AI through enhanced regulatory frameworks and ensure ethical and equitable access.
  3. Build digital capacity across the health workforce and digital infrastructure capability, particularly at primary and community levels.
  4. And has been stated by Member States, foster global collaboration on governance, evaluation, and knowledge-sharing to make digital tools more accessible and trusted.

Thank you.