Global Diagnostics Coalition

Background

Diagnostic services are foundational to healthcare, informing clinical decisions, enabling treatment, and driving disease prevention and management across every area of care. Yet access remains deeply unequal, with an estimated 4.7 billion people worldwide unable to access safe, affordable, quality-assured diagnostic services. This gap undermines health outcomes, strains health systems, and hampers progress toward universal health coverage.

In response, the World Health Assembly has adopted multiple resolutions to strengthen diagnostic capacity, including WHA76.5 and WHA78.13, alongside other relevant and emerging commitments. These reflect the growing recognition of the need for coordinated global action across the full spectrum of diagnostic services. The World Health Organization established the Global Diagnostics Coalition (GDC) to support and help translate these commitments into coordinated, country-driven action.

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About us

The GDC is a WHO-managed informal network convening diverse stakeholders to strengthen diagnostics capacity and support coordinated action across health systems. It also contributes to advancing other relevant World Health Assembly resolutions and global health priorities related to diagnostics across diseases and health conditions towards universal health coverage and emergency preparedness and response.

The GDC was formally launched at a side event during the World Health Assembly WHA78 on 21 May 2025, with the participation of Member States, WHO leadership and partners.

Driving global advocacy for diagnostics

Mission

To support implementation of WHA76.5 through advocacy, awareness raising and information sharing - improving access to diagnostics and diagnostic services as a fundamental pillar of healthcare systems, towards achieving universal health coverage and emergency preparedness and response.

Vision

To create a world where timely, equitable, and quality diagnostic technologies and services are accessible to all – empowering health systems, accelerating universal health coverage, and strengthening global preparedness for health emergencies.

Goal

To serve as a platform and convening network for diverse stakeholders to strengthen diagnostic capacity, align efforts, and support a coordinated global agenda on diagnostics across diseases and health conditions.

Objectives

The Global Diagnostics Coalition operates in line with its Terms of Reference, pursuing three core objectives:

strengthen national diagnostic capacity and policy integration;
advance global prioritization and harmonization; and
promote collaboration and knowledge sharing across stakeholders.

Governance

Steering committee

The steering committee comprises members appointed by WHO, representing a range of stakeholder groups, geographical regions and areas of expertise. It provides overall strategic direction for the work of the Coalition and supports the development and oversight of its work plan.

Steering committee (2025-2027):

The Steering Committee is chaired by WHO, with Dr Hedvig Hricak (International Society of Radiology) serving as Vice-Chair

Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), Dr Yenew Kebede Tebeje, Head of Division, Laboratory Network and Systems
Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI), Mr Trevor Peter, Senior Director, Global Diagnostics Team
Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA), Dr Antonio Fredelindo Dela Resma Villanueva, Senior Research Fellow
Foundation for Innovative New Diagnostics (FIND), Ms Dorcas Mapondera, Chief of Staff and Head of External Affairs
Gates Foundation (GF), Dr Maike Scharp, Deputy Director, Diagnostics
Global Diagnostic Imaging, Healthcare IT & Radiation Therapy Trade Association (DITTA), Mr Felix Uedelhoven, Head of Government Affairs & Policy, GE Healthcare
Global Medical Technology Alliance (GMTA), Mr Zach Rothstein, Executive Director, AdvaMed
Institut Pasteur de Dakar (IPD), Dr Cheikh Tidiane Diagne, Head of Operations
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Dr May Abdel-Wahab, Director, Division of Human Health
International Federation of Biomedical Laboratory Science (IFBLS), Ms Marie Culliton, Board Member and Past President
International Federation for Medical and Biological Engineering (IFMBE), Prof Marc Nyssen, IFMBE Focal Point to WHO
International Society of Radiology (ISR), Dr Hedvig Hricak, Chair Emerita of Radiology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), Ms Nathalie Ernoult, Head of Advocacy
UNICEF, Dr Alexandre Costa, Chief, Health Technology Centre, Supply Division

Membership

Why join?

The opportunity to contribute to a coordinated global effort to strengthen diagnostics capacity and improve access to diagnostics across health systems.

The Coalition is in a formative stage – this means members joining now have a direct hand in shaping its priorities and areas of work, including through engagement in initial working groups and collaborative activities.

Advocate for diagnostics access with a WHO-managed platform

Shape the Coalition's priorities and working groups at a formative stage

Connect with a global network spanning all stakeholder groups and regions

Who can join?

Membership is open to organizations actively engaged in diagnostics and contributing to public health, including:

government technical agencies;
United Nations agencies and intergovernmental organizations;
nongovernmental organizations and civil society organizations;
academic and research institutions;
private sector entities and international business associations; and
philanthropic foundations.

Terms of reference

Ready to join?

Organizations interested in joining the Global Diagnostics Coalition are invited to complete the online application process.

Multilateral government and UN agencies may submit an expression of interest directly to the GDC Secretariat at [email protected].

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis and are reviewed periodically by the GDC Secretariat in accordance with eligibility criteria and WHO rules and policies.

Applicants are encouraged to review the Terms of Reference and prepare relevant documentation prior to submission.

Apply here