The World Health Organization (WHO) convened the inaugural meeting of the Global Diagnostics Coalition (GDC) at its headquarters in Geneva, bringing together 60 representatives from 34 of the coalition’s 40 member organizations, joining both in person and virtually to define priorities for advancing equitable access to diagnostic services worldwide.
Participants reflected the breadth of diagnostics and highlighted the importance of ensuring that the Coalition continues to expand its membership to better represent this full spectrum. They noted that more inclusive representation will be critical to addressing gaps across health systems and geographies.
More than half of the world’s population lacks access to basic diagnostic services—a persistent gap that undermines universal health coverage, weakens health system resilience, and limits countries’ ability to prevent, detect and respond to disease.
Held during the Seventy-ninth World Health Assembly, the meeting underscored the urgency of the coalition’s mandate. In her opening remarks, WHO Assistant Director-General for Health Systems Access and Data, Dr Yukiko Nakatani, pointed to active public health emergencies declared during the week, including Ebola outbreaks in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda, and a hantavirus outbreak to highlight that the need for rapid, quality-assured diagnostics is immediate, not theoretical. She emphasized that the moment calls for urgent, collective action.
As a WHO-administered informal network, the GDC brings together international organizations, professional associations, academic institutions, civil society and industry partners around a shared vision: a world where timely, equitable and quality diagnostic technologies and services are accessible to all.
Participants heard from government representatives from Timor-Leste and Uganda, who highlighted both progress and persistent challenges in strengthening national diagnostics systems. Dr Nevio Sarmento, President of Timor-Leste’s National Institute of Public Health, described how the country’s National Essential Diagnostics List is being used not only to guide procurement, but also to inform policy and budget decisions. Dr Susan Nabadda Ndidde, Commissioner for National Health Laboratory and Diagnostic Services at Uganda’s Ministry of Health, emphasized the importance of aligning global guidance with national priorities, calling on partners to “let countries lead.”
Designed as a working meeting, participants engaged in structured discussions to prioritize thematic areas for collective action in the Coalition’s first operational year. The discussions highlighted the need for stronger evidence, coordinated advocacy, and practical tools to support country implementation.
The meeting also welcomed aligned global initiatives, including the WHO Interim Medical Countermeasures Network and the AMR Diagnostics Collaborative, reflecting growing recognition that diagnostics are foundational to both health security and universal health coverage.
Closing the meeting, Dr Jicui Dong, Unit Head for Medical Devices and Assistive Technology at WHO, underscored that no single institution can advance the diagnostics agenda alone, and that the Coalition’s strength lies in bringing together diverse expertise to drive coordinated action.
Following the meeting, the GDC Secretariat will establish working groups, with launches planned for July 2026. Organizations interested in learning more are invited to visit the GDC webpage or contact the Secretariat at gdxc@who.int.
WHO acknowledges and thanks the Gates Foundation for its foundational and ongoing support of the GDC.