How the World Health Organization is evolving

A conversation on the future of the World Health Organization, rethinking how we approach digital implementation and funding in LMICs, and what it really means to decolonize global health.

“Countries need to be in the driver’s seat of their own development agenda… The earmarking of assistance has to stop.”
-  Dr. Alain Labrique, Director, Digital and Innovation, World Health Organization

Absolutely chuffed to have had the chance to speak with WHO Director of Digital Health and Innovation, Dr Alain Labrique.
 That he’s also a listener of the podcast? Even better.

Alain is an engaging storyteller, shaped by a childhood in the streets of Dhaka and decades spent advancing implementation science to reach underserved communities.

We spoke at length about the unfolding crisis in healthcare delivery in many settings that have relied heavily on development funding. While the impact on clinical services has received attention, Alain highlighted a deeper, less visible collapse: the quiet failure of digital infrastructure: servers, IT systems, and backend platforms now left unfunded and unsupported.

At the same time, WHO itself is navigating similar pressures: budget cuts, shifting priorities, and an urgent need to re-focus. Alain offers a refreshingly honest take on what comes next for WHO and how the organization can stay relevant in a rapidly changing world.

Crucially, it's inspiring to hear a leader from such an influential institution speak with clarity and conviction about shifting power, building local ownership, and rethinking how global health is funded and framed.

On our episode on AI ethics with Jess Morley, she spoke about how rhetoric shapes collective mindsets and changes behavior and markets. This conversation with Alain is, in my view, the kind of rhetoric we need more of.

00:00 Introduction and Background of Alain Labrique
12:05 Development funding cuts impact on digital infrastructure
24:01 What future funding mechanisms need to consider
27:26 The Role of Private Sector in Health Infrastructure
31:14 Responsible Partnerships in Health Innovation
33:00 The Evolving Role of WHO in Digital health now
38:21 Building Capacity and Governance in Health Systems
40:41 Navigating AI in Health Care
46:22 Learning from Failures in Health Initiatives
50:27 Advice to Founders building in Underserved Communities