WHO Digital health technical advisory group and roster of experts on digital health

“Due to the high number of applications received for the membership of Digital Health Technical Advisory Group, the selection processing time has been extended. We will inform all applicants by email of the result shortly.”

WHO is soliciting proposals for nominations of experts to serve on its digital health roster and technical advisory group.

WHO’s newly-established Digital Health Department will work to harness the power of digital health technologies and steer developments to contribute to the attainment of all people to the highest level of health through the General Programme of Work (GPW13) triple billion goals and Sustainable Development Goal 3 (Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages). World Health Assembly resolution WHA/71 A71 underpins this work.

WHO is establishing roster of experts in various areas related to digital health, such as strategic approaches, areas for intervention and governance structures for regulations and adoption of digital health solutions and products. Some of those experts will be selected to be part of a technical advisory group, and others may be called on to be part of specific subgroups. 

The advisory group shall have the following functions:

1. To provide high-level global strategic advice and support to the WHO Secretariat on the Organization’s digital health vision and strategy, thereby facilitating WHO’s positioning and comparative advantage in the subject to enable maximum impact; and
2. To review the digital health frontier landscape and advise the WHO Secretariat on possible effective new areas for intervention in that subject.

Members of the roster and the advisory group must be acknowledged experts with an outstanding record of achievements in their own field and an understanding of and proven interest in digital health technologies. Members serve in individual capacity and do not represent institutions. Nominations are solicited globally. We are seeking to establish a diverse committee, in terms of regional representation, gender balance and expertise. Nominations will be reviewed and selected by WHO.

It is envisioned that the technical group will have its first meeting in July 2019, with the specific date to be decided, to review the current landscape and discuss and agree the workplan for the coming 12-18 months, including timing and format of future meetings. WHO may decide to establish smaller working groups on priority areas of work from within the roster of experts.

Qualities of members

Members of the panel are expected to meet the following requirements.

• Have an understanding and proven interest in digital health technologies;
• Have an outstanding record of achievement and personal credibility within own field, appropriate to the remit of the group (i.e. national or large scale digital health programs and policy, artificial intelligence and health, virtual and augmented reality in healthcare, biomedical innovation, robotic surgery, wearable technologies and health and wellness, traceability (e.g. blockchain) and health,  ethics, governance and security in healthcare ecosystem with a focus on digital health, health economics with a focus on digital health and health law with focus on digital health technologies);
• Experience of work and issues in international settings;
• Experience of operating at a strategic level in the public or other sectors;
• Experience of working effectively in high level advisory committees;
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills to support effective discussion with a range of stakeholders;
• Ability to evaluate complex issues and weigh up conflicting opinions;
• Ability to influence at a senior level;
• Good command of English; and
• A broad range of expertise and interest.

How to apply

To apply you must confirm interest, availability and commitment to serve on the roster/technical advisory group, and provide:

• an up-to-date curriculum vitae (CV)
• a letter of motivation highlighting what your potential contribution to the roster/technical advisory group
• completed Declaration of interests form
  

The CV should include your career history and list your main areas of employment or other relevant activity and other public appointments. You should also include details of any relevant academic, professional or vocational qualifications. Your CV will be used in the assessment of your expertise. It is important that the CV and/or letter of motivation provide evidence that you have the “Qualities of Members”. The CV should be written in English. Provide all contact details including, if available, a cellular phone number.

Please send your completed applications using subject line "Application for Membership to Digital Health Technical Advisory Group [name of country and name of applicant]” to whodigitalhealth@who.int.

After receipt of the applications

• We will acknowledge receipt of your application and its completeness (by e-mail) and we will check it for eligibility, from 2 June 2019 onwards.
• We will rely on the information you provide on your letter and CV to assess whether you have the experience required at the appropriate level. Please ensure that you provide written evidence to support how you meet all of the relevant criteria, which are identified in the “Qualities of Members” section;
• Telephone interviews may be scheduled between nominees and the Secretariat to clarify areas of uncertainties about your experience and expertise and ask specific questions to explore whether you meet the specified qualities;
• Candidates who best fit the criteria and match the needed expertise with due consideration to ensuring a proper balance will be proposed for appointment to the Director-General of WHO, who will make the final decision;
• Successful candidates will receive a letter inviting them to serve as part of the technical advisory group and that will specify the beginning and duration of term;
• Unsuccessful nominations will also be notified by the Secretariat.

Compensation

Appointments are not remunerated. However, members are compensated for expenses related with attendance to meetings. Such compensation, which includes the issuance of airline tickets, per diem to cover lodging, food and incidental expenses will be in accordance with the WHO travel rules.