In the dynamic landscape of global health, one principle stands out as a common thread across countries: the importance of individual engagement. Increasingly recognized for its transformative impact on individual health outcomes, individual engagement is a concept that lies at the heart of initiatives spearheaded by the Global Digital Health Partnership (GDHP), including the recently launched International Insights on Individual Engagement (the I-E). As a collaboration of country governments and the World Health Organization formed to support the executive implementation of worldwide digital health services, the GDHP released the I-E to empower GDHP members and the public to develop and implement individual engagement.

The I-E is a global resource and serves as a playbook that includes health equity by design as a core concept. It is brimming with insights and tools for the successful development and implementation of individual engagement strategies. The I-E includes 62 GDHP member stories, best practices, roadmaps, frameworks, use cases, lessons learned, and recommendations.

Under the guidance of the United States serving as GDHP Secretariat and based on work done by GDHP work streams, the idea for the I-E emerged in 2023 and was envisioned as a critical resource for advancing the engagement of an individual in their own care. The I-E provides an opportunity for GDHP members to share effective engagement activities happening within their countries, with each other, and the broader health IT community. Areas highlighted include:

• Governance: establishing frameworks for individual engagement.
• Digital Health Literacy: empowering individuals to effectively use digital health technologies.
• Individual Enrollment: enabling individuals to register for digital health capabilities (e.g., Individual portals).
• Individual Access to Health Records: supporting individuals’ ability to view, download, and send their health records.
• Health Records Integration: enabling individuals to share their records with others and integrate those records with various health systems and services.
• Individual-to-Provider Communication: enhancing connectivity and collaboration between individuals and their health care providers.
• Virtual Care: delivering health services to individuals through telehealth and telemedicine.
• Shared Decision Making: facilitating health professionals and individuals to work together to make health decisions.

The I-E is designed to resonate with diverse audiences (e.g., clinical teams, individuals, innovators, individuals, health care organizations, policy makers, and researchers). It seeks to advance individuals’ engagement with their health to streamline health delivery and enhance individuals’ autonomy and satisfaction wherever they are in the world.

The journey toward effective engagement with individuals regarding their health care requires unwavering commitment, collaborative spirit, continuous innovation, and—most importantly—the ability to learn from each other to implement strategies that are responsive to individual needs. The I-E is an important resource on that journey.

Visit the GDHP website to review the I-E and learn more about the GDHP.