The World Health Organization (WHO) and the non-profit public-private organisation Healthcare Denmark have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to accelerate cooperation on digital health, health data, artificial intelligence and health system innovation in the 53 countries of the WHO European Region.

Under the agreement, the WHO will share global technical expertise on digital health and AI with Healthcare Denmark and relevant Danish stakeholders, and Healthcare Denmark will share information on Danish experiences and good practices.

The two organisations will participate in delegation visits, roundtable meetings, webinars and other technical exchanges, and will contribute to the dissemination of evidence-informed innovative health approaches in line with the needs of European countries. Healthcare Denmark will support study visits and technical exchanges between the WHO Europe offices and interested countries with relevant Danish health authorities and institutions. Denmark will be used as a learning platform for countries interested in digital health and data-driven health system development. Key areas for collaboration will include digital transformation, health information systems, data analytics, and AI in health.

Health equity

“I have seen what Denmark has built, and it’s impressive,” said Dr Hans Henri P. Kluge, WHO Regional Director for Europe. “The country boasts a health system where data flows safely between patients, clinicians and researchers, and where AI supports doctors rather than replacing them. This agreement means that every country in our region can learn from that journey and skip some of the hard lessons along the way. This is health equity in practice. Not a slogan, but a working partnership designed to benefit all.”

Lars Fruergaard Jørgensen, Chair of Healthcare Denmark, added: “Digital transformation is not achieved through technology alone. It requires trust, governance and collaboration. Through this agreement with WHO/Europe, we can help connect health systems across the Region with practical experience from Denmark’s digital health journey.”

The partnership will not support business development activities or imply WHO endorsement of any product, service or entity. Any involvement of private-sector entities in study visits or exchanges will be transparent, appropriately managed and strictly non-promotional.

The MoU will continue until 30 June 2031 and may be extended for additional periods of five years.