The International Federation for Medical and Biological Engineering (IFMBE) is pleased to announce its participation in the newly established Global Diagnostics Coalition, an initiative coordinated by the World Health Organization (WHO). This important global effort brings together key international organizations and stakeholders with the shared goal of strengthening diagnostics and diagnostic systems worldwide.
The inaugural meeting of the Coalition took place on 24th March 2025 and was well attended, with 34 participants representing some of the most influential global societies in the field of health, diagnostics, and medical technology. The primary objective of the meeting was to confirm the interest and engagement of the participating associations, and to gather initial proposals for thematic working groups that will guide the Coalition’s activities.
Most organizations expressed strong interest and a clear willingness to collaborate.
During the meeting Prof. Iadanza, Chair of the Council of Societies, confirmed IFMBE’s enthusiasm to actively contribute to the Coalition’s mission and offered its support in areas aligned with its expertise. In order to complement the competencies of the other participating entities and avoid duplication of efforts, he proposed the following three focus areas for potential working groups:
– Evidence-Based Management and Maintenance of Diagnostic Equipment: Promoting efficient and sustainable approaches to diagnostics infrastructure management, with a focus on data-driven maintenance strategies.
– Education and Training: Supporting the development and dissemination of training programs for biomedical and clinical engineers, as well as for the broader healthcare workforce, to ensure safe and effective use of diagnostic technologies.
– AI-based Software as a Medical Device (SaMD) for Diagnostics: Exploring the emerging field of artificial intelligence in diagnostic software, including regulatory challenges, validation, and implementation.
IFMBE looks forward to contributing to the Global Diagnostics Coalition and collaborating with its partners to advance access to quality diagnostics as a critical component of global health systems.