NextBillion - An Initiative of the William Davidson Institute at the University of Michigan

Monday, September 30, 2013

The most pressing global healthcare challenges are to be tackled as the world’s leading medical, academic and government professionals gather at the inaugural World Innovation Summit for Health (WISH) in Doha, Qatar on 10-11 December 2013.

WISH will also unveil a Global Innovation Diffusion Study, the first of its kind, to assess eight countries in terms of how their systems contribute toward transformative change – whether through innovation in technology, processes or business models.

Chaired by Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, Chairperson of Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development, the Summit will bring together more than 500 global health innovators including heads of state, ministers, senior government officials, academics and influential business leaders. Over two days, these key figures will discuss practical, sustainable and innovative ways to address some of the huge health challenges currently faced worldwide.

Her Highness Sheikha Moza announced WISH during last year’s Global Health Policy Summit in London’s Guildhall, which was organised by Qatar Foundation and Imperial College London’s Institute of Global Health Innovation.

Her Highness said, “Healthy populations and good healthcare are priorities for every nation. Yet healthcare providers around the world are faced with critical challenges: delivering quality and affordable healthcare; financing the discovery of the best prevention techniques and interventions; and integrating this knowledge into public health and social policies. WISH will champion radical innovation in health in order to implement positive changes across the globe.”