Recognizing that diagnostic services are vital for the prevention, diagnosis, case management, monitoring and treatment of communicable, noncommunicable, and injuries and disabilities, the World Health Assembly approved resolution 76.5 on Strengthening Diagnostics Capacity in May 2023.

In this resolution, the term “diagnostics” includes in vitro and in vivo medical devices used for the diagnosis, screening, monitoring, prediction, staging or surveillance of diseases or health conditions, including imaging.

To support the implementation of this resolution and other resolutions and initiatives related to diagnostics, such as the WHA78.13 on Strengthening Medical Imaging capacity, a development of a Global Diagnostics Coalition (GDC) was proposed. The Coalition addresses the need for a collaborative platform to provide strategic direction and coordinate diagnostics capacity strengthening efforts globally. The coalition aims to improve access to diagnostics, covering universal health coverage across clinical services, including for emergency preparedness and response. 

The Global Diagnostic Coalition was launched at a side event during the World Health Assembly on 21^st May 2025.  

The Global Diagnostics Coalition is a WHO managed network, administered and housed within WHO.

It has 3 objectives:  

1. Conduct advocacy activities that raise awareness and increase support of WHO diagnostic leadership and capacity strengthening efforts as essential health services for management of all health conditions..  
2. Conduct advocacy activities to raise awareness of  the essential role of diagnostics and diagnostic services for achievement of universal health coverage, as well as emergency preparedness and response for case management, monitoring and treatment of communicable, noncommunicable,  injuries and disabilities.  
3. As a WHO convening network, strengthen networking and knowledge sharing for establishment and advancement of a coordinated agenda on global diagnostic access and stewardship within and across diseases and health conditions. 

Coalition membership consists of organizational representatives, rather than individuals, from: 

• Government technical agencies
• UN agencies and intergovernmental organizations;
• Nongovernmental organizations (including civil society groups);
• Academic institutions;
• Private sector including international business associations;
• Philanthropic foundations.  

The member entities should contribute significantly to the advancement of public health and to the objectives, vision and goal of the Global Diagnostics Coalition and demonstrate documented support for the WHO in the area of diagnostics medical devices and diagnostic services; should be actively and internationally working in the field of diagnostics with proven experience and expertise in the subject matter; should have an established structure, constitutive act, and accountability mechanism; and should respect the intergovernmental nature of WHO and the decision-making authority of Member States as set out in the WHO Constitution

As the Secretariat of the Global Diagnostics Coalition, WHO will convene the next call for stakeholders on 13 August .

The Global Diagnostics Coalition was launched on 21^st of May 2025, in an official side event during the World Health Assembly WHA78.

With the participation of Assistant Director General, Dr Nakatani, WHO staff of the Diagnostics taskforce and multiple Non-State Actors in official relations with WHO.

During the WHA78 a report was given to Member States on the implementation of WHA76.5 strengthening diagnostics capacity and the WHA78.13 Strengthening medical imaging capacity was approved by all Member States, multiple initiatives towards increasing access to diagnostics!