Introducing the digital version of the Global Goods Guidebook: Empowering an ecosystem of choice
At Digital Square, we are committed to breaking down the barriers to digital health transformation to advance health equity through the power of technology. To this end, we are thrilled to announce the release of the new interactive, digital version of the Global Goods Guidebook.
This digital tool is a transition from an annual PDF publication to a focused online platform—a dynamic, interactive experience designed to support an ecosystem of choice for anyone interested in evaluating, adopting, and adapting digital health resources. The new digital platform supplies decision-makers with the information needed to make informed choices about software products, tools, and digital health content applicable to their contexts. Informed choices empower country governments, donors, and other stakeholders to create improved digital systems that enable better healthcare.
"Our work is driven by the need to be responsive to the constantly evolving digital health ecosystem. To meet this need, we have transformed our guidebook from a static map to a flexible GPS, which empowers users to explore and engage dynamically,” explains Carl Fourie, Deputy Director of Digital Technical Services at Digital Square. “The digital platform allows users to personalize their experience. With just a click, touch, or swipe, they can discover global goods readily available to meet their digital health needs."
“With just a click, touch, or swipe, [users] can discover global goods readily available to meet their digital health needs.”
Through interactions with digital health stakeholders, we have heard the need for greater partnership with country health leaders to help them access the required information for digital health transformation, particularly in technical areas with information asymmetry. At the same time, more country governments are emphasizing the need for localized solutions and partnerships in their efforts toward the digital transformation of their health systems.
In Uganda, the need for quick deployment of digital tools during public health emergencies illustrates the current information gaps. Reflecting on lessons learned from past experiences, Joshua Kayiwa, Information Analyst at Uganda’s Ministry of Health, explains: “From experience with past public health emergencies, such as Ebola and cholera, there is some difficulty with having quick deployment of applicable tools. Sometimes in these pandemic situations, you’re just using an Excel sheet because of the lack of time to create these systems.”
As governments spearhead the digital transformation of their public health systems, it's crucial for all stakeholders at the country level—including donors, innovators, partners, developers, and implementers—to collaborate and support the journey toward digital transformation. Key to this journey is the task of identifying and sustaining high-quality digital health products that meet local needs, are affordable at scale, and align with global standards.
The digital version of the Global Goods Guidebook aims to bridge these knowledge gaps to help ensure that leaders in digital health can make informed decisions.
Features and Benefits: A Comprehensive Solution for All
The guidebook acts as a compendium of Digital Square–approved software and content global goods curated to empower decision-makers. It serves as a living resource, describing the product attributes of each global good and offering insights for supporting digital health projects across the globe.
Up-to-date information
The guidebook will be updated regularly whenever new global goods are approved or further product information becomes available.
An interactive tool
The digital platform provides for an engaging user experience tailored to support the needs of country stakeholders, implementers, developers, donors, and innovators. Users can filter global goods by type and explore the complete list of global goods within selected categories. Additionally, the platform has an advanced filter for searches according to WHO's classification of digital interventions, services and applications, country presence, OpenHIE architecture components, and interoperability standards capabilities.
The digital Global Goods Guidebook offers several filtering options for users to easily find specific global goods to meet their needs.
Informative global goods pages
Dedicated pages for each global good provide key product information, including major features, geographic reach and impact, maturity, and community information. Get access to each global good’s source code, website, links to useful resources, and contact information.
A digital health asset
We hope the digital Global Goods Guidebook will serve as a digital health community asset to support the ongoing adoption of global goods by countries and as a trusted tool for country leaders, partners, funders, and innovators. Digital Square remains committed to supporting local ownership and country-led decision-making to facilitate the long-term sustainability of digital transformation.