The World Innovation Summit for Health (Wish), a global initiative of Qatar Foundation (QF), has appointed Stephen Colagiuri, professor of Metabolic Health at Sydney University, to chair its Diabetes Forum.
Professor Colagiuri will guide the work of a multidisciplinary team composed of leading experts from around the world. The forum will produce evidence-based research addressing the main issues facing policymakers and others responsible for the prevention and treatment of diabetes.
Results, findings and recommendations from the forum will be presented for discussion at the Wish summit taking place in Doha on 17 – 18 February 2015.
The Diabetes Forum, one of seven to publish reports at Wish 2015, will investigate a range of diabetes related issues in the coming months. It will give an overview of the current burden of diabetes globally and projections for likely future scenarios.
The forum will also examine the effectiveness of the type 2 diabetes treatment and what policy levers might be used to ensure they are applied consistently in diabetes care. Finally it will also review case studies from across the world of successful implementation of innovative, practical and cost effective treatments and prevention strategies
Professor Colagiuri said: “Our current approach to diabetes is totally unsustainable in the face of its extraordinary growth – especially in healthcare systems which are least well equipped to deal with it.
“Our team will bring a range of perspectives to bear on this urgent health priority and I look forward to working with some of the world’s leading experts. We want to help equip policymakers with the evidence and guidance they need to confront diabetes for the sake of current and future generations.”
Professor The Lord Darzi of Denham, executive chair of Wish, said: “Diabetes is widely recognised as a looming global health crisis. It causes significant human suffering, commonly damaging the heart, blood vessels, eyes, kidneys and nerves and its social and economic impact is vast, especially in poorer countries.”
With the appointment of Professor Colagiuri as chair of the Diabetes Forum, Wish aims to improve care for people with diabetes globally, examine innovative and cost effective solutions, and demonstrate where policymakers can make practical interventions to ensure treatment is applied consistently so that all patients can benefit.
Professor Colagiuri is a world-renowned diabetes expert. His research has focused on evidence-based guideline development and implementations, screening for type 2 diabetes, prevention of type 2 diabetes, economic aspects of diabetes prevention and care, diabetes care delivery in developing countries, and vascular risk assessment in people with diabetes. He has published over 200 scientific papers on diabetes.
Other than diabetes, Wish will publish reports on Communicating Complex Health Messages, Delivering Affordable Cancer Care, Dementia, Universal Health Coverage, Mental Health and Well-being in Children and Young People, and Patient Safety.
