HH Sheikha Moza bint Nasser delivers the opening address at WISH. (AR al-Baker/HHOPL)
By Joseph Varghese
Staff Reporter
HH Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, chairperson of Qatar Foundation and founder of World Innovation Summit for Health (WISH), has exhorted global healthcare experts and the community to look for innovations to meet complex challenges in the health sector.
HH Sheikha Moza was addressing a gathering of more than 1,000 healthcare experts from around the world at the opening ceremony of the second edition of WISH, which started at the Qatar National Convention Centre on Tuesday.
A number of dignitaries, including HE the Prime Minister and Interior Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa al-Thani, several Qatari ministers, a number of ministers from different countries, royals, ambassadors and a number of dignitaries took part in the opening session of the summit.
HH Sheikha Moza explained, “Conventional solutions will not work to address our current global health challenges. So, perhaps the ultimate goal of our coming together at WISH is the need for innovative solutions to these challenges. Be at the forefront of innovation. We will be with you, at the forefront of supporters.
“Innovation does not spur out of a political decision; it can only do so if it is embedded within the social and cultural fabric, as a natural outcome of development.
“Statistics indicate that there are at least a billion people each year who have no access to the health services they need; 250mn of them are devastated by the financial consequences resulting from the fees they pay for such services.
“We cannot overcome our healthcare challenges unless we begin to invest in solutions that link health and education, as they are intrinsically connected. And innovation in education leads us to innovation in health. It is our wish to promote the cause of both access to basic primary education and universal health coverage.”
Further, HH Sheikha Moza said: "It is our belief that the people of Qatar deserve excellent care here at home. That is why we are investing in excellence in patient care and clinical research at Sidra, which will be a world-leading medical centre. Through Hamad Medical Corporation and Primary Health Care, we are constantly striving to improve the quality of care available to all."
Prof the Lord Darzi of Denham, executive chair of WISH, pointed out that the summit would address some of the pressing healthcare challenges of today.
He said, “We face a rising tide of non-communicable diseases – chief among them cancer, diabetes and dementia - which we address this year. It is one of the defining challenges we face. The scientific challenge has become a financial one, how to afford the rising cost of care.
“The global bill for cancer treatment alone stands at $290bn; 350mn people around the world suffer from diabetes and in 20 years, that will double to one in 10. Forty-four million people around the world suffer from dementia. We urge all governments to act with resolve to improve prevention and care and open up innovations in treatment.”
After the opening plenary session, there were panel discussions at the WISH Forums. Each of the forums unveiled new research and shared workable solutions to some of the world’s greatest healthcare threats.
During the forenoon session, the topics of diabetes, mental health and well-being in children and universal health coverage were discussed. The afternoon sessions discussed the topics of patient safety, dementia and healthcare and ethics: genomics.
