WHO’s Demand Catalyst Scales Proven Digital Health Tools
A WHO-led programme is helping countries adopt proven digital-health tools—quickly, systematically, and without reinventing the wheel.
Photo source:
WHO Innovation Hub
How Demand Catalyst Is Transforming Public Health Strategy
Demand Catalyst is a
global programme launched in 2024 by the WHO Innovation Hub within the
Department of Digital Health and Innovation. It works directly with national
health ministries to identify pressing health needs—then connects these needs
with six validated digital tools in areas like mental health, primary care, and
maternal-child health. This model flips the usual approach: instead of trialing
new tech at random, governments choose what they need and the programme find
what works.
The toolkit also
provides a framework for expanding successful pilots into national systems. As
each health ministry tailors digital tools to their context, Demand Catalyst
sets the stage for long-term integration. It supports this with guidance and
toolkits, due in 2025, that document methods for scaling effective health
solutions across countries.
Why This Approach Meets Real Needs
Rather than focusing
on untested innovations, Demand Catalyst uses a pull-based model: countries
define what issues matter most—like maternal mortality or mental illness—and
then match those needs to tools already proven effective in other settings. The
result is actionable digital health interventions that avoid duplication and
speed up implementation.
Alongside pilots and
partnerships in 17 WHO member states, the programme is assembling a
step-by-step guide for future scaling—so that other countries can adapt tools
based on clear results and tested standards. By combining global guidance with
local tailoring, Demand Catalyst creates a balanced path to national adoption.
How Demand Catalyst Supports Future-Ready Health Systems
Demand Catalyst
reflects WHO’s goal of building resilient digital health systems—linking
ecosystems and scaling solutions that improve health equity and outcomes. It
aligns with broader WHO plans like the Global Strategy on Digital Health
2020–2025, which emphasizes ecosystem building, innovation scaling, and
normative guidance—all core to the programme’s mission.
By working within 17
countries and planning formal toolkits, the programme not only addresses
today’s healthcare challenges but also prepares systems for future
disruptions—especially in areas like pandemic response, remote access, and
focused care for vulnerable groups.
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