Advancing Digital Health Interoperability: CDHi Successfully Concludes Second FHIR Connectathon Workshop

CDHI-Center for Digital Health and Implementation Sciences, in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and World Health Organization, is proud to support Ethiopia's journey toward a fully interoperable digital health ecosystem.
This week, we successfully concluded the second FHIR Connectathon Workshop (June 15-17, 2026), a three-day hands-on event dedicated to advancing Ethiopia’s HIV Digital Adaptation Kits (DAKs) and strengthening FHIR-based interoperability across the health sector.
The workshop was opened by Mr. Fekadu yadeta, (Lead Executive Officer - National HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis & STI Programs, Ministry of Health) and featured remarks from Mr. Gemechis Melkamu (Digital Health Lead Executive Officer at the Ministry of Health), who highlighted the importance of interoperability in accelerating Ethiopia’s digital health transformation. Technical sessions were further enriched by contributions from Piotr Wojciech Mankowsk and José Costa Teixeira from World Health Organization headquarters, who shared global perspectives on SMART Guidelines and FHIR implementation.
Key achievements:
- Strengthened capacity in FHIR implementation and the Ethiopia HIV Implementation Guide
- Enhanced collaboration between program and technical teams
- Built practical interoperability skills and expertise
- Advanced the foundation for integrated, standards-based digital health systems
This workshop is a key step toward breaking down silos in Ethiopia's digital health landscape, ensuring that the right health information reaches the right people at the right time.
We extend our sincere appreciation to The Global Fund for funding these workshops and to the Digital Health Lead Executive Office, Governance Desk for their valuable coordination and support in making this event successful.
Together, we are building a more integrated, resilient, and interoperable digital health ecosystem in Ethiopia.