By Fazeena Saleem
DOHA: Policymakers and experts from around the world were urged yesterday to implement new and more efficient methods to cope with growing health threats as World Innovation Summit for Health (WISH 2015) ended in the presence of H H Sheikha Moza bint Nasser.
The summit published research reports on pressing healthcare and showcased 25 innovative findings to offer new, cheaper, easier and more effective healthcare in matters such as cleft palate treatment, hearing aids, prosthetics and cataract treatment.
Sheikha Moza visited WISH innovation gallery and met young innovators, including those behind Hamad Medical Corporation’s ‘How Was Your Visit’ app-based patient experience survey, which is helping improve healthcare services.
Earlier, she attended a panel discussion on ‘Global diffusion of healthcare innovation/leading health systems network’.
The two-day summit at Qatar National Convention Centre under the theme ‘A healthier world through global collaboration’ saw around 1,000 delegates, including 28 health ministers, from more than 80 countries.
WISH 2015 addressed issues, including affordable cancer care, maternal and newborn health and communicating complex health messages.
Three panels discussions were held. One on the challenge of maternal and newborn health, held in partnership with the Gates Foundation, another on the threat of Ebola and controlling infectious diseases and the third on genomics and the future of personalised medicine.
The closing session discussed ‘The changing pattern of infectious diseases: a global healthcare crisis’ in the presence of Minister of Public Health H E Abdullah bin Khalid Al Qahtani and other dignitaries.
Professor Lord Darzi of Denham, Executive Chair of WISH, shared the summit’s achievements and goals.
“There is a clear need for radical innovation and urgent action in the face of increasing global health threats.
“WISH succeeds in bringing these two needs together — providing evidence-based, innovative solutions and sharing them with policy experts and national agencies able to implement them.”
“Over the past two days we have seen the best minds in healthcare join together to help shape and inform the most effective solutions for countries around the world.
“This dedication to collaboration is what makes WISH so unique and is what, I believe, will allow us to make such an important impact on the future of global health,” he said.
Lord Darzi called on Qatar to adopt the best practices which it has learnt at the summit to further improve healthcare services.
However, Dr Hanan Al Kuwari, Managing Director, Hamad Medical Corporation, told a press conference earlier yesterday: “We have implemented a lot of learning from WISH. We review all WISH recommendations and see what can be implemented.”
WISH was established in 2013 under the guidance of
H H Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, Chairperson, Qatar Foundation, to promote greater collaboration in healthcare innovation. It is now a global healthcare community dedicated to capturing and disseminating the best evidence-based ideas and practices for the benefit of populations everywhere.
The Peninsula
