Italy Refuses to Adopt WHO’s Global Green Pass, Minister of Health Confirms
In a recent announcement, Italian Health Minister Orazio Schillaci made it clear that the Italian government has no intention of adhering to the World Health Organization’s (WHO) proposed ‘Global Green Pass’. The decision was made following the approval of the decree-law on 26 February in the Council of Ministers.
The Global Green Pass is a document aimed at sharing vaccination certification data on an international level, developed through an agreement between the WHO and the European Union last June. The objective of the pass is to establish a system for digitalizing international vaccination or prophylaxis certificates, starting from the model used for Covid vaccination.
Despite the potential benefits of the Global Green Pass for easier international travel and health data sharing, Italy has chosen not to participate in the initiative. Minister Schillaci emphasized that the government will present an amendment to the decree-law to reformulate the text and align it with the objectives of the Italian National Recovery and Resilience Plan (Pnrr) in terms of health.
Membership in the WHO’s global digital health certification network is voluntary for EU member states, and the agreement between the Commission and the WHO is not binding. The WHO’s digital strategy, which includes the digitalization of health certificates, aims to enhance global health security and expand telemedicine services.
While the Global Green Pass may provide a convenient and secure way to share health data internationally, Italy’s decision not to adopt it highlights the country’s commitment to prioritizing the protection of privacy and personal health information. The government’s focus remains on achieving the health objectives outlined in the Pnrr through the full operation of the electronic health record system.