Cyprus Joins the WHO Global Network for Digital Certification

The Republic of Cyprus has joined the World Health Organization's (WHO) Global Network for Digital Certification. Cyprus becomes the sixth European country to join this network.

The Ministry of Health of the Republic of Cyprus announced that the accession to the network took place on Wednesday, December 13, following "coordinated efforts" from various stakeholders.

The Ministry of Health stated that the Global Network for Digital Certification "offers digital infrastructure for cross-border verification of medical documents, thereby aiding the development of digital solutions to enhance pandemic preparedness and provide better health for all."

"In the future, the network may be used to support additional initiatives, such as international digital vaccination certificates, cross-border prescription verification, cross-border patient data exchange, and transboundary certification," the ministry said in a statement.

Recall that in early June 2023, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the European Commission announced the start of an unprecedented partnership in digital health. As part of the project, WHO began work on establishing a new global system aimed at promoting population mobility and protecting citizens worldwide from existing and future health threats, including pandemics. This system is based on the digital vaccination certificate system developed by the European Union (EU).

This system will become the first component of the WHO Global Network for Digital Medical Certification (GNDMC), within which a wide range of digital products will be launched for the benefit of global public health.