Digital Health for NCDs & Mental Health - Geneva Digital Health Day (GDHD) 2026

Geneva Digital Health Day 2026 brought together global leaders, innovators, researchers, policymakers and implementers for a dynamic programme exploring major trends and challenges in digital health. Through expert discussions on artificial intelligence, implementation science, space technology and real-world success stories, the event created opportunities to exchange knowledge, examine practical solutions and build meaningful collaborations. Interactive sessions and fast-paced networking formats also enabled participants to connect with peers and explore new partnerships.

The NCD Policy Lab partner with the Geneva Digital Health Hub on the track “Digital Health for NCDs and Mental Health.” The session explored how digital tools can support the prevention, early detection and long-term management of NCDs and mental health conditions, with particular attention to implementation, policy alignment, sustainable financing and scalability.

The programme included a presentation of the aggregation system developed for the NCD Policy Lab platform in partnership with HEPIA. This work illustrated how digital infrastructure can help bring together information generated across different settings and support the use of evidence for research, policy dialogue and decision-making. The session also featured the experience of CRONICAS, presented by Lourdes Cruzado Castro, offering a country-level perspective on the opportunities and challenges involved in applying digital approaches to NCD prevention and management.

A panel discussion moderated by Marina Giachino brought together Jackie Ogutu, Lourdes Cruzado Castro and Ken Carswell to examine how digital health initiatives can be more closely connected to health-system needs and policy priorities. The discussion highlighted the value of involving researchers, policymakers, implementers, healthcare professionals and communities throughout the development and implementation process. This collaboration is essential to ensure that digital solutions are not only technically effective, but also usable, equitable and relevant to the settings in which they are introduced.

The track reflected a central area of the NCD Policy Lab’s work: strengthening the connection between evidence, country experience and policy action. By facilitating exchange between actors working at different levels of the health system, the session contributed to a broader discussion on how digital health can support sustainable improvements in access, continuity and quality of care for people living with NCDs and mental health conditions.

WATCH THE REPLAY OF TRACK 1 : DIGITAL HEALTH FOR NCDs AND MENTAL HEALTH