On the sidelines of the
World Health Assembly 79

Digitalizing Primary Health Care for Universal Health Coverage

Country insights on implementing WHO SMART Guidelines and Digital Adaptation Kits for sexual and reproductive health.

Friday, 22 May 2026
16:30 - 19:00 CEST

Spaces are limited. Confirmations issued on a rolling basis.

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About the event

Turning guidance into impact.

WHO's SMART Guidelines initiative addresses this gap by translating evidence into operational tools, including Digital Adaptation Kits (DAKs), computable specifications, and reference applications.

This side event will bring together ministers of health, digital health implementors, donors, and technology partners to highlight how countries are using SMART Guidelines, DAKs, and related digital tools to strengthen primary health care (PHC) systems - sharing practical, real-world solutions to improve quality of care and accelerate universal health coverage (UHC).

The session will also feature a soft launch of a new DAK Implementation Facilitation Guide - a WHO technical resource informed by country experiences - to support Member States and partners in systematically digitalizing health programs using the DAK approach.

Join us to turn guidance into impact.

Programme

From normative guidance to the point of care.

Tentative agenda - subject to change and evolving. Please check back for updates.

16:30 - 16:35

Welcome & Interactive Audience Poll

16:35 - 16:40

Opening Remarks

16:40 - 16:45

Keynote Address

17:20 - 17:25

Spotlight: Soft Launch of the DAK Implementation Facilitation Guide

17:25 - 17:40

Facilitated Audience Q&A

17:40 - 17:45

Closing Call to Action

17:45 - 19:00

Networking Reception

Speakers and contributors - more to be confirmed

High-level reflections from Member States and partners.

Keynote Speaker
Dr. Manaouda Malachie
Honourable Minister of Public Health
Republic of Cameroon
Mr. Syed Mustafa Kamal
Speaker
Mr. Syed Mustafa Kamal
Honourable Minister of National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination
Islamic Republic of Pakistan
Speaker
Dr. Albert Francis E. Domingo
Undersecretary, Chief of Staff of the Philippines Department of Health
Republic of the Philippines
Speaker TBC
Speaker · TBC
Speaker TBC
Ministry of Health Representative
Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia
Speaker
Dr. Pascale Allotey
Director, Department of Sexual, Reproductive, Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health and Ageing, and HRP, the UN's Special Programme in Human Reproduction
World Health Organization · HQ, Switzerland
Speaker
Dr. Lale Say
Unit Head, Health Systems, Data and Digital for Sexual Reproductive Health, Department of Sexual, Reproductive, Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health and Ageing, and HRP, the UN's Special Programme in Human Reproduction
World Health Organization · HQ, Switzerland
Speaker
Dr. Garrett Mehl
Unit Head, Digital Health and Information Systems Unit, Department of Data, Digital Health, Analytics and Artificial Intelligence
World Health Organization · HQ, Switzerland
Speaker
Sean Blaschke
Chief, Digital Health Transformation, Access and Equity
UNICEF
Speaker
Kuwani Banda
Senior Clinical Informatics Specialist
IHM Southern Africa · Zambia
Speaker
Dr. Miriam Nkangu
Scientist, BornFyne Project Lead
Bruyère Health Research Institute · Canada
Speaker
Mr. Jai Ganesh Udayasankaran
Executive Director
Asia eHealth Information Network (AeHIN)
Speaker
Mohini Bhavsar
Director of Government Relations and Multilateral Partnerships
Grand Challenges Canada
Dr. Ebongo Nanje Zacheus
Speaker
Dr. Ebongo Nanje Zacheus
Director of Family Health
Ministry of Public Health, Cameroon
Ms. Alice Tabebot Ojong
Speaker
Ms. Alice Tabebot Ojong
FP2030 Focal Point, Department of Family Health
Ministry of Public Health, Cameroon
Co-hosts, Co-organisers and Partners