The Pan-American Highway for Digital Health: Enabling Trust for Health Data Exchange: An Opportunity for the Latin American and Caribbean Region
Date issued
January 2026
Subject
Health;
Digital Health;
Health Services;
Pandemics;
Immunization Programs;
Trust;
Collaboration;
Digital Signature;
Digital Technology;
Digital Citizenship;
Quality Management;
Interoperability
JEL code
I1 - Health;
I18 - Government Policy • Regulation • Public Health;
I15 - Health and Economic Development;
J61 - Geographic Labor Mobility • Immigrant Workers;
C63 - Computational Techniques • Simulation Modeling;
H41 - Public Goods
Category
Learning Materials
This document presents the Global Digital Health Certification Network (GDHCN), analyzes the current situation in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC), and proposes strategies for regional integration and cross-border health data exchange transactions. This work is carried out within the framework of the Regional Public Good project “Digital Health Trust Network in Latin America and the Caribbean to Improve Access to Health Services for Migrants” (RG-T4404), implemented by RACSEL, which aims to strengthen interoperability and continuity of care for people on the move across the region.
The GDHCN, led by the World Health Organization, establishes standards and mechanisms to enable the secure international verification and exchange of digital health certificates, and constitutes a key component of the Pan-American Highway for Digital Health (PH4H). The regional analysis shows that a significant proportion of LAC countries already have regulatory frameworks and technical capacities that support integration into the network.
Finally, the document highlights the benefits of joining the GDHCN in terms of local capacity strengthening, regional integration, and the adoption of international standards, and presents a maturity model proposed by RACSEL to support countries throughout the adoption process.
The GDHCN, led by the World Health Organization, establishes standards and mechanisms to enable the secure international verification and exchange of digital health certificates, and constitutes a key component of the Pan-American Highway for Digital Health (PH4H). The regional analysis shows that a significant proportion of LAC countries already have regulatory frameworks and technical capacities that support integration into the network.
Finally, the document highlights the benefits of joining the GDHCN in terms of local capacity strengthening, regional integration, and the adoption of international standards, and presents a maturity model proposed by RACSEL to support countries throughout the adoption process.
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