The Global Diagnostics Coalition (GDC) brought together government officials, civil society, industry leaders and partner organizations at the World Health Summit 2026 in Berlin to advance coordinated responses to persistent gaps in diagnostic access. The session opened with remarks from WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, who argued that resilient health systems must be able to detect and respond to health threats while also delivering routine care. The organizers and speakers framed diagnostics as foundational to universal health coverage, health security and pandemic preparedness.
Data presented during the event underlined the scale of the problem: investigators noted that 47% of the world’s population still lacks access to a timely, reliable diagnosis, a shortfall that limits opportunities for early detection, treatment and effective care.
Carol Nawina, Executive Director of CITAMplus, told the room about repeated care-seeking before a diagnosis of HIV, tuberculosis and cancer. Her account was direct: delayed diagnosis produced repeated visits, avoidable costs and worsening illness. She urged decision-makers to bring services closer to communities and to structure diagnostic systems around people rather than single-disease programs. The study team observed that community members must be treated as equal partners—informing design, shaping innovation and strengthening accountability. Nawina stated plainly that lived experiences should be treated as evidence to guide investments and policy.
Dr Mohamed Fawzi, Radiology Advisor to Egypt’s Minister of Health and Population, described national efforts to expand access to screening, diagnostic imaging and teleradiology. He emphasized linking diagnostic services explicitly with treatment and follow-up care so that detection leads to timely clinical management. The account presented operational lessons rather than a detailed methodology; the source did not report specific implementation metrics or timelines from Egypt.
A moderated expert panel assembled leaders from the GDC, FIND, Siemens Healthineers, Christian Blind Mission and the Gates Foundation to discuss practical barriers and solutions. Panelists called for innovation that responds to country needs, stronger overall investment in diagnostics, and targeted action on workforce and infrastructure constraints. They also urged development of more effective regulatory pathways and earlier preparedness measures so systems are ready before crises emerge. The cohort suggested that stronger data on both the health and economic value of diagnostics will be essential to build political commitment and unlock financing. Clear national diagnostic priorities were recommended to align partners and avoid fragmented, disease-specific approaches.
Kylie Shae, Team Lead for Medical Devices and Assistive Technology at WHO and Chair of the GDC, presented the Coalition’s activities one year after launch. Shae reported growing membership and outlined work to share knowledge, strengthen advocacy and support coordinated action through three named pillars: Illuminate, Champion and Integrate. The source described these pillars as organizing functions for the Coalition’s work but did not provide detailed operational plans or specific deliverables for each pillar within this account.
Deusdedit Mubangizi, Director for the Department of Medicines and Health Products Policy and Standards at WHO, closed the session with a call for stakeholders to convert momentum into action. He urged a shared responsibility to close the diagnostic gap and encouraged continued support for country leadership and alignment across the diagnostics ecosystem. The Berlin meeting was reported as an important milestone in GDC engagement with the wider global health community.
The Coalition intends to continue supporting country-led efforts, strengthen alignment among partners, and foster collaboration to expand equitable access to diagnostic services. The source provided a contact route for organizations and individuals who wish to engage: the GDC webpage and the Secretariat email at gdxc@who.int. The WHO release did not list specific next funding commitments, quantified timelines, or regulatory changes; these remain open questions for follow-up and for country-level planning.