Maseru – The Ministry of Health of Lesotho, in partnership with key stakeholders and with technical and financial assistance from the World Health Organization (WHO), has successfully validated its draft Digital Health Strategy 2025-2030. This marks a significant milestone in the country’s efforts to harness the power of digital technologies to strengthen its healthcare system, improve health outcomes, and achieve its broader health and well-being goals.

Lesotho, like many nations across the globe, recognizes the growing potential of digital technologies in transforming healthcare. In line with the WHO's global health goals and the UN 2.0 framework, the Digital Health Strategy aims to leverage emerging technologies such as remote monitoring, big data analytics, and more, to improve healthcare delivery, enhance medical diagnoses, and promote person-centered care. Additionally, by leveraging digital health tools, Lesotho aims to enhance the quality of care, expand access to health services, and improve disease surveillance. The strategy also focuses on strengthening the skills and competencies of healthcare professionals through evidence-based digital health interventions.

The three-day workshop, held from November 27-29, 2024, saw Dr. Derrick Muneene and Dr. Rosemary Foster from WHO’s Department of Digital Health and Innovation engaged with a diverse group of local stakeholders brought together by the Ministry of Health. Together, they assessed the current state of digital health maturity in Lesotho and developed strategic objectives for the future. These discussions laid the groundwork for the Digital Health Strategy 2025-2030, which seeks to provide a roadmap for the integration of digital health tools into national healthcare systems.

On December 10, 2024, key stakeholders gathered for a half-day validation workshop to review and refine the draft strategic objectives and corresponding actions. The feedback from this workshop will be incorporated into the strategy, which will be presented for endorsement by the Ministry of Health leadership. This collaborative approach ensures that the strategy reflects the needs and priorities of Lesotho’s healthcare system and is aligned with global best practices.

Integrating the UN 2.0 Framework 

The development of the Digital Health Strategy 2025-2030 aligns with the UN 2.0 framework, which emphasizes leveraging digital transformation to advance the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The framework’s focus on inclusivity, multistakeholder collaboration, and digital innovation is reflected in Lesotho’s approach to addressing healthcare challenges. By embedding the principles of the UN 2.0 framework, the strategy ensures that digital health interventions are equitable, ethical, and sustainable, fostering a future-ready health system that leaves no one behind.

Speaking during the validation exercise Ministry of Health ICT Director, Lesotho- Mr. Tsele Moloeli expressed his excitement in the seeing this strategy validated.

“As a Ministry, we remain optimistic and look forward to implementing this strategy across the health sector. This strategy has generated a lot of interest among our partners. Thanks to WHO and other stakeholders for the support thus far and beyond this validation exercise,” said Mr. Tsele Moloeli, Ministry of Health ICT Director, Lesotho.  

 “As WHO, we are happy to support Lesotho’s Ministry of Health in this vein. We have and continue to advocate for the integration of digital health into national health systems and support countries in developing their national digital health strategies. All these efforts aim to promote evidence-based digital health interventions that are ethical, secure, and sustainable while ensuring that all people benefit in a safe and equitable manner,” said Dr. Mesfin Zbelo, Health Systems Advisor, WHO Lesotho.             

The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development underscores the importance of digital technologies in bridging the digital divide and creating knowledgeable societies. By aligning with the UN 2.0 framework and leveraging digital tools, Lesotho’s Digital Health Strategy will contribute to improving the health and well-being of its people while supporting the country’s broader health goals and commitments to the SDGs. This strategy serves as a model for other nations seeking to harness the transformative power of digital technologies to achieve universal health coverage and sustainable development.