Global initiative on health technologies
Health technologies have a critical role in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of illness and disease. Yet, access to health technology remains a challenge particularly in developing countries.
The Global Initiative on Health Technologies aims to help make available the benefits of health technologies, particularly to communities in resource-limited settings, in order to effectively control important health problems. The GIHT has two primary objectives.
Objective 1
To challenge the international community to establish a framework for the development of National Health Technology Programmes that will impact the burden of disease and ensure effective use of resources.
Activities
- Development of guidelines for the formulation of National Health Technology Programmes;
- Development of a methodology and relevant tools to help Member States to conduct an assessment of health technologies;
- Identification of national, regional and global standards for countries to identify current gaps and future needs in order to prioritize health technologies;
- Development of tools to assist countries to integrate the prioritized needs into national policies, action plans and programmes;
- Development of supporting e-tools.
Results
- Advisory group meetings
- Policies and resolutions
- Health technology assessment
- Management and use
- Country data
- Core medical equipment
- Aggregated information and searchable database
Objective 2
To challenge the business and scientific community to identify and adapt "innovative" technologies that can have a significant impact on public health.
Activities
- Identify and collaborate with institutions and WHO Collaborating Centres;
- Identification of key global health concerns, guided by the Global Burden of Disease and the Disability Adjusted Life Year;
- Outreach/call to the business and scientific community;
- Identification of the "Innovative Technologies".