Countries Chart Path Forward on Interoperable Digital Health Systems at RODHS 2025

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Countries from South-East Asia convened at the Regional Open Digital Health Summit (RODHS) 2025 in New Delhi to plan the future of interoperable digital health systems. Delegates from nations including Bangladesh, India, and Sri Lanka shared progress and challenges in building digital public health infrastructure using open standards. The discussions focused on transitioning from small pilot projects to integrated digital health ecosystems. A major technical highlight was the agreement to adopt Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources (FHIR) as the standard for data exchange. Experts noted that countries would gradually upgrade older systems using FHIR, adapters, and pilot testing. Beyond technology, governance, legislation, and ethics were key discussion points. Participants emphasized that strong data protection laws, citizen-focused frameworks, and legal recognition of digital records are crucial for sustainability. The adoption of WHO's SMART Guidelines and HL7 FHIR standards was highlighted as essential to solve issues like fragmented data and inconsistent definitions in disease surveillance. Ultimately, the consensus reached by national speakers was that strong governance, laws, and trust must lead technology, ensuring that technological progress is underpinned by robust legal and ethical frameworks.