"Digital Health Diplomacy" in Global Digital Health? A call for critique and discourse. (20th December 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Godinho, Myron Anthony; Martins, Henrique; Al-Shorbaji, Najeeb; Quintana, Yuri; Liaw, Siaw-Teng
• Is Part Of: Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association. Volume 29:Number 5(2022)
• Page Start: 1019
• Page End: 1024
• Publication Date: 2021-12-20
• Subjects: Global Health Diplomacy -- digital cooperation -- science diplomacy -- global south -- eHealth -- vaccine passport -- technological sovereignty; Medical informatics -- Periodicals; Information Services -- Periodicals; Medical Informatics -- Periodicals; Médecine -- Informatique -- Périodiques; Informatica; Geneeskunde; Informatique médicale; Computer network resources; Electronic journals; 610.285
• DOI: 10.1093/jamia/ocab282
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1067-5027

Abstract

Abstract: Actualizing the vision of Global Digital Health is a central issue on the Global Health Diplomacy agenda. The COVID-reinforced need for accelerated digital health progress will require political structures and processes to build a foundation for Global Digital Health. Simultaneously, Global Health Diplomacy uses digital technologies in its enactment. Both phenomena have driven interest in the term "Digital Health Diplomacy." A review of the literature revealed 2 emerging but distinct definitions that have been published very recently, each with its associated discourse and practice. This multiplicity of ideas demonstrates the myriad ways in which global digital and political systems are becoming increasingly entangled. Untangling these, this paper proposes and discusses 3 dimensions of Digital Health Diplomacy: "Diplomacy for digital health, " "Digital health for diplomacy, " and "Digital health in diplomacy." It calls upon digital health professionals, diplomats, political and social scientists, epidemiologists, and clinicians to discuss, critique, and advance this emerging domain.