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World leaders discussed the latest developments taking place in the Middle East and highlighted their implications at a session on the opening day of Doha Forum 2024 Saturday.The panellists at the session on *Conflict Resolution in a New Era included Qatar's Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs HE Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani, Norway's Minister of Foreign Affairs Espen Barth Eide, and India's Minister of External Affairs Dr Subrahmanyam Jaishankar.HE Sheikh Mohammed spoke on the current state of negotiations between Israel and Palestine, saying that it has been going through ups and downs since the start of the war.“We have seen on November 23 (2023), the deal was concluded to release the first batch of hostages in exchange of 250 Palestinian prisoners,” he said. “And since that time, we have been back and forth within the same process, within the same framework that we are discussing today.”HE Sheikh Mohammed noted that the situation in Syria is evolving rapidly.“Our worry is that this will bring back the old cycles of internal violence, the civil war, and this is really threatening the integrity, the territorial integrity of Syria,” he stated. “It can damage and destroy what is left if there is no sense of urgency to start putting a political framework and trying to address the issue from a political perspective to find a sustainable solution.”Eide stressed that the establishment of the integrated Palestinian statehood is the only way to ensure peace and coexistence in the Middle East.“We need a two-state solution,” the Norwegian minister said. “We want an integrated Palestine, compromising the West Bank and Gaza, the relevant parts of Jerusalem, you know, as was envisaged in the Oslo Accords.”“And the drama, the horror is so deep now that we cannot go back to 6th of October last year,” Eide said, referring to the events of October 7, 2023.He also noted that the world would not be able to solve the problems in the Middle East region without solving the Palestinian question.Dr Jaishankar stated that what is happening in the Middle East region affects all countries, including India.“We have about 500,000 Indians who live in Mediterranean countries,” he said.“We have a trade of about $80bn with the Mediterranean,” Dr Jaishankar continued. “Looking at the Gulf, we have 10mn Indians here and maybe about $180bn of trade.”“I think what's happening in Syria, what's happening in the larger region, what's happening in Gaza and Lebanon, in Iran, the combination of all of this, there is a larger regional instability which is actually growing month on month,” he added.“It is impacting us. As a country on the other side of Asia, we are feeling the impact of this,” the minister said. “I mean, we are feeling it in shipping costs, we are feeling in trade disruptions.”“So today instability anywhere actually is a source of concern. There is no region you can say that is far away,” he added.The session was moderated by CNN chief international anchor Christiane Amanpour.

Qatar is well positioned to assume leadership roles in genomics globally, Dr Robert Green, an internationally renowned genetic professor told Gulf Times.“I am really impressed by the sophistication, the collaborative nature, and the ambition of the Qatari scientists that I have met," observed the physician–scientist at Mass General Brigham, an integrated healthcare system in the US, and a professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School."It is stunning how quickly traction is being gained here in genomics and precision medicine. I think Qatar has the ability to move into leadership positions, as it already is there in some areas, but can move into more and more leadership positions, and I genuinely admire that,” he said.Dr Green, recently in Qatar for the first time, was interacting with Gulf Times at an event. A pioneer in genomics, his work is accelerating the implementation of preventive genomics and precision medicine.He explained: “I admire the commitment and the ambition, and particularly the collaborative nature of the research at so many levels, both within Doha and in the country and with the international community. I think that is what it takes in genomics. This is really an international community, and the scientists here are part of it and are going to continue to be part of it in the years to come.”Dr Green said many countries in the Middle East have ambitions around genomics, and have stated their projects. “I think that creating biobanks, creating screening programmes, creating workflows within the electronic health record, are different stages of piloting and implementation in all the countries I have visited. I am very much impressed with what is going on here in Doha. This is my first visit to Doha, and I am thrilled to be here and looking forward to coming back and contributing in any way I can.”He noted that the field of genomics is looking at large numbers of genes to detect either a diagnosis in somebody who is sick, or the presence of a risk factor in someone with a family history, or even in the general population.He elaborated: “One of the most exciting things that my work involves, is the idea of screening people, both adults and children, who don't manifest symptoms at this particular moment, and screening them for conditions that may manifest later in life. That's called population precision health. It is a very exciting development, made possible by the fact that the technology is becoming cheaper and more sophisticated.”Most countries, according to the genomic expert, has already started screening newborns. “We have what is called newborn screening, which is a blood spot that goes to a laboratory and looks for mostly biochemical abnormalities, and that has been one of the public health miracles around the world and it is working very well. Now the question is, can we add to that, and detect rarer disease using these new technologies. We call that newborn sequencing, which is in addition to conventional newborn screening,” he remarked.The genomics professor highlighted that his project ‘BabySeq’ was one of the first in the world to try this and has generated a lot of scientific reports. “We have demonstrated that it is not dangerous, it is not so stressful. We discover an enormous amount of information, most of that information is actionable, meaning you can do something about it to prevent future disease, or mitigate future disease. A number of companies and countries have followed suit, providing this in different ways,” he said.“We have created a startup company, Nurture Genomics, which is a dynamic platform, so you sequence once, and then you can dynamically update the interpretation every year to find the new 100, 200 or 300 mutations that have been discovered that year, and to find those specific children who need a treatment that year,” added Dr Green.

Artificial intelligence (AI) as well as dependence on machines has become an indispensable part of life as the data produced currently “exceed any human capability to understand”, an expert told a Doha gathering Thursday. “We are producing data, more data, more rapidly today than at any point in our history, and humans are just incapable without the aid of machines to understand these things, which puts us in a very serious predicament,” said Dr Moriba Jah, associate professor of Aerospace Engineering and Engineering Mechanics at the University of Texas in Austin. He was delivering the keynote address at an event on *AI Uprising, organised by Georgetown University in Qatar ( GU-Q) as part of its Hiwaraat Series, which aimed to explore how humans can direct AI to sustainably reshape industries and the workforce , enhance well-being and protect the planet’s future. “Data tends to be the output of measurements,” Dr Jah said. “I say to my students, if you want to know something, you have to measure it,” he continued. “If you want to understand something, you have to predict it.” “Prediction is the key,” Dr Jah stated. “We are all familiar with different aspects of environmental problems, but the rate at which data is produced exceed any human's capability to understand it at this point.” Speaking about “Mother Earth” and the environment, Dr Jah noted that the humans are living in interconnected system, and something that happens in one part shall definitely affect the parts of the universe. “We need to hypothesise that things are interconnected, that the things happening on land affect oceans, affect the skies, affect space, so on and so forth,” he said. “In such scenario, machines need to be seen as our collaborators,” Dr Jah said. “Machines can help us sift through hyperdimensional data and help identify causal links. But we need to start thinking about Mother Earth as a holistic system of systems.” He pointed out that the machines are not the enemy of humans and that humans need to see machines as equals and as collaborators in what humans are trying to do. Welcoming the gathering, GU-Q dean Safwan Masri said that with the rapid advancements in technology, including AI, the world is at a crossroad facing high stakes. “AI imitates human capabilities, learns from it, and increasingly surpasses it,” he said. “AI has forced us to reconsider who we are, standing at the threshold of either elevating humanity to heights we have never imagined, or unravelling the events that bind us together. Our conversation today is unique.” With the arrival of Chat-GPT, the technological acceleration has been unstoppable and unrelenting. “AI diagnoses diseases, designs cities, solves problems, and offers entertainment that never ends,” Masri added. “But amidst this progress, something darker emerges. AI amplifies our biases and mirrors our fears too, with tools faster, sharper, and more transformative than we have ever encountered.” “It spreads disinformation that erases the line between truth and lies,” he warned. “It produces deep fakes that distort reality and destabilise governments. These challenges demand thoughtful engagement, spaces where diverse perspectives come together to chart a responsible path forward.” The event also featured high level panel discussions, keynote speeches and concurrent sessions that explored AI, its benefits and impacts as well as to act with conscience and find ways of harnessing the potential of AI without leaving humanity behind.

Adopting precision health very early with a genomics programme and biobank has helped Qatar play a prominent role in the field globally and in supporting other nations, top officials of Qatar Precision Health Institute (QPHI) told Gulf Times.“Over the years, especially the last four years, we have been receiving many requests from various countries on specific questions," said Dima Darwish, genomics education expert at QPHI."Most of the time, they are asking for co-operation and transfer of our knowledge and expertise in the field. Countries that have a genomics programme and a biobank that enables precision health are very few around the world,” she told Gulf Times on the sidelines of a two-day workshop on precision health for invited delegates from 17 countries from around the world.“These are countries interested in launching their own national programmes in genomics or biobanking and they are interested about our experience here in Qatar in launching two very successful programmes of Qatar Biobank and Qatar Genome almost a decade ago and this comes in recognition of Qatar's leading efforts in this field,” she explainedThe workshop has representatives, Europe, Asia, Africa, and Southeast Asia.“We initially had ten countries in discussions with us for the past four years. And these countries were talking to others and we had to accommodate the requests of 17 countries. The demand is really high,” said Darwish.“Through this workshop we take the participating countries in a step-by-step journey on how to establish a biobank and a genomics programme that serve precision health. Now, the elements are varied. The first step is about building the human capacity and there are many areas of possible collaboration,” she explained.“There is a co-ordinated research with samples and data from different countries. Mainly, in this phase, we are focusing on serving them with our expertise and knowledge to help countries who are considering starting a new programme or have started already but are struggling with the technicalities and divisions,” remarked the official.Acting president Prof Said Ismail said QPHI will be spearheading implementation of the knowledge accumulated so far.“We will be not only leading with the research efforts in genomics and biobanking but also in translating all the knowledge we accumulated over the past decade into impactful clinical practices. Patients will find them when they go to get the treatment in the healthcare system within Qatar,” he stressed.Prof Ismail said that in cancer treatments, QPHI concluded a highly successful pilot programme on preventive measures to identify ladies with higher risk of developing familial forms of breast cancer.“The success of this pilot encouraged us to expand this to other forms of familial cancers. We will soon be working with our colleagues at HMC to look for potential carriers of mutations predisposing them to colon cancer and other forms of familial cancer,” he said.“The first pilot on breast cancer was performed on 6,000 participants. We identified dozens of carriers. Now we will expand that to 25,000 participants from our cohort and then eventually the whole set. Once we finish that we move to other forms of familial cancer,” added Prof Ismail.

Delegates from 17 countries from around the globe are taking part in a workshop organised by Qatar Precision Health Institute (QPHI), a Qatar Foundation initiative.The two-day event that began Sunday aims to advance precision health and QPHI will help the participants with collaboration and knowledge transfer in advancing precision health in their countries.QPHI, a global hub of genomics and biobanking and a national centre for research is hosting the workshop, titled, ‘Setting up Large-scale Programmes to Empower Precision Health’ with other global entities such as the International Agency for Research on Cancer/World Health Organisation (IARC/WHO) and Thermo Fisher Scientific.The delegates are from countries across the Mena region, Africa, Asia, and Europe and the event focuses on high-level strategic priorities and objectives for national biobanking and population genomics programmes.QPHI, IARC/WHO, and Thermo Fisher Scientific, recognise the value in sharing biobanking and predictive genomics knowledge to international science and policy leaders, empowering them to establish their own national initiatives. The workshop aims to provide international leaders with strategic and practical awareness on leveraging genomic data for precision health and predictive genomics, utilising population-based cohort studies for patient-centred outcomes, and the significance of adequate biobanking practices in precision health.During one of the sessions, Prof Said Ismail, acting president of QPHI, commented: “We have accumulated extensive knowledge to share with our peers and are doing so with the best research partners. Achieving what we have so far is down to our far-reaching experience, and we aim to share this with fellow experts looking to start their own national programs.”Experts from QPHI and other national partners led the conversation on critical topics such as building strategy and governance, public health, benchmarking business models, building human capacity, education and training, and predictive genomics. The workshop also covered the technical aspects of genomics programmes, with experts showcasing the best practices and sharing practical and theoretical experiences on infrastructure setup and building the necessary collaborations for developing national genome and biobanking programmes.Dima Darwish, genomics education expert at QPHI, also emphasised: “Qatar is a thought leader in genomics, and as one of the earliest adopters of precision health, we’re proud to invite scientists and policymakers from all over world for this important workshop. This two-day event serves as a benchmarking tool to share our expertise and encourage the international research community to become involved in such initiatives.”

Emphasising that ‘Qatar is the UK's leading development partner in the Gulf’, the British ambassador, Neerav Patel said several significant pacts will be inked during the upcoming state visit of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani to the UK on December 3 and 4.“This is a really special moment for the relationship between the UK and Qatar. It is only the third state visit to the UK in Qatar's history. It will be the first state visit for an Arab leader under King Charles III,” said the ambassador at a recent press conference.“I really think that this is going to be a generational moment, a chance for us to renew the partnership, renew the relationship for another generation. We will be signing several agreements during the visit which comprise of multiple areas,” explained Patel.The British envoy said certain areas of cooperation will be defence and security; economy and energy, global cooperation and people to people relationship, though details will be made available only during the state visit.He remarked: “What we're trying to do is to touch on every aspect of the relationship. Defence and security is one of the most important pillars of our relationship. In terms of the air force, the UK has got only one joint squadron anywhere in the world since World War II, and that is with Qatar. It is unique, nowhere else on the planet do we have such a relationship.”“What we are now looking to do is to thicken up the relationships in the defence area and also enabling areas such as digitisation, AI and intelligence. What we're looking to do is to come up with a comprehensive plan so that both countries are ready for the future environment. We hope to push forward cooperation on other areas of security that range from cyber to policing, counter-terrorism, counter-drugs activity, providing security for big public events, including learning from Qatar's experience of the World Cup,” continued Patel.As for economy and energy, the ambassador said that the UK relies on Qatar's LNG as part of its energy mix.“At its height, I believe, Qatar provided 25% of UK's liquid natural gas needs in 2022. What we are keen to do is to keep that going but branch into clean energy as well and to have clean energy partnerships where both countries are investing in new technologies and new startups that will become the unicorns of the future. So the UK's ambition is to become a clean energy superpower and we would really love for Qatar to be a partner in that,” elaborated the envoy.According to Patel, another area of cooperation is international cooperation. “On any international visit with leaders from one country to another, we will be talking about all of the important situations that are going on at the moment in the world, in particular in the region. I am sure the leaders will be talking about Gaza, about Lebanon, about wider instability, but they will also be talking about the essential role that Qatar is playing on mediation both in the region and more broadly,” he pointed out.He remarked: "We believe along with the government of Qatar that we won't have a sustainable calm across the region unless we can find a resolution on Gaza. I'm sure that the leaders will talk about the invaluable efforts that Qatar has been making to mediate on Gaza more widely, repatriating Ukrainian children seized by the Russians, its role in finding deals and mediation and progress in countries ranging from Afghanistan to Venezuela."”“The final pillar or area of cooperation is on the people-to-people links, which is really important. The UK is really proud to call itself Qatar's oldest friend in the western world. Our relationship goes back 160 years and more. The UK is second home for so many countries, particularly London" added the ambassador.

The head of the office of the UN Development Programme (UNDP) in Qatar has praised the country’s approach on sustainable progress and the efforts on building a skilled and productive population."Qatar has chartered a great path in human development through a number of initiatives," Dr Biplove Choudhary, technical representative and the head of UNDP office in Qatar, told Gulf Times on the sidelines of the Qatar launch of the UNDP Human Development Report 2023-2024.“Qatar’s strong performance in the Human Development Report ranking 40th globally in 2023-2024, reflects its commitment to enhancing quality of life through visionary leadership and strategic planning. The third Qatar National Development Strategy, aligned with the Qatar National Vision 2030, emphasises human development by focusing on education, healthcare, and economic growth,” he explained.“By prioritising human capital, innovation, and inclusivity, Qatar aims to further accelerate sustainable progress. This approach, centred on building a skilled and productive population, sets a benchmark for resilience and forward-thinking national strategies, reinforcing its global standing in development,” he remarked.The event hosted by the Middle East Council for Global Affairs also saw a panel discussion titled, ‘Co-operation and Development in the Mena Region Amid a Polarised World’ discussing the UNDP report and its impact in the region.According to Dr Choudhary the report has fundamentally shaped how development is viewed not just as economic growth, but as the expansion of people's freedom, choices and opportunities.“The Human Development Report has consistently sparked global conversations, influenced policy decisions, and inspired action by presenting rigourous analysis, thought-provoking insights and forward-looking recommendations. The implications of the UNDP report for policy and practice, are reflected on what it means for our connected future, both globally and here at the GCC and in Qatar,” he continued.The report titled ‘Breaking the Gridlock: Reimagining cooperation in a polarised world, notes that the global Human Development Index is projected to reach record levels in 2023. It also notes that inequality is on the rise again: after 20 years of convergence, the gap between the richest and poorest countries began to widen from 2020. The poorest and most vulnerable countries are being left behind.The report is an invitation to reimagine co-operation by pursuing ideas that it encourages the world to fight for. It says that it is imperative to pursue common ground while accepting that people will have the right to retain their diverse interests and priorities.The report highlights that people must be enabled to pursue their legitimate and natural human security ambitions without protectionism. It focuses on what gives people to shape their lives free from fear, want and living without dignity. From the energy transition to artificial intelligence, discussion of risks and challenges needs to be rebalanced with the consistent articulation of the potential to live.Finally the report points to a 21st century architecture for international co-operation to deliver global public goods. “This includes the planetary public goods required to navigate from climate change mitigation to pandemic preparedness to biodiversity preservation as well as the digital public infrastructure and digital public goods that would enable the digital revolution to be harnessed to enable people to flourish in more equitable ways,” adds the report.

Taking the private sector along to deliver the long-term goods can help the GCC governments bring in good results, noted a Qatari entrepreneur, highlighting the impacts of private-public sector collaboration in Qatar.In Qatar and the other GCC countries, traditionally governments used to be the sole provider or the subsidiser of all the projects, pointed out Sheikha Amna Mohammed Suhaim al-Thani, chief executive officer, Strategy Hub.She was speaking at a panel by the Middle East Council for Global Affairs in Doha on Wednesday. The discussions focused on the 2023-2024 Human Development Report by United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)."However, while governments continue to be the main provider, there has been a shift with governments becoming a regulator providing the private sector a greater role. I think if you allow the private sector to be in the middle of delivering the long-term goods, there will be a much better result than what it has been in the past,” she observed.Noting that private sector is more agile and known for growing innovation and managing resources, Sheikha Amna said that it has a lot more resilience and adaptability.“The private sector is known for using data-driven insights and organisations, developing robust education institutions, research development, innovation centres that are able to gather large-scale data and then provide recommendations based on those findings. As part of our work at Strategy Lab, we develop impact assessments and through that we help to leverage the public and the private sectors.”Sheikha Amna also pointed out importance of making use of Artificial Intelligence ( AI) and its great potential for the future. “I think that countries that are able to leverage AI and use it to expedite progress, will extremely benefit for the delivery of global public goods and the support of human development,” she noted.Discussing the major contents of the UNDP report, she said that at the very heart of Qatar National Vision and the National Development Strategy, noble ideas for global public progress are embedded.“One the pillars of Qatar National Vision, is environmental protection, which relates directly to climate change as a global public good. And if you take that example and you dig deeper, you will find that Qatar, through its National Vision and Development Strategy, has developed clear metrics on reducing energy emissions, preventing biodiversity loss, investing in green climate funds and among others. So in so many ways, the country has embedded global public goods in its National Strategy. And I can say that all GCC countries have developed meaningful metrics to reduce carbon emissions for all the last few years.”She commented that Qatar has over the years developed large-scale infrastructure projects, education projects and a robust health system standing the test of time.“In addition, you'll also find that at the heart of the Qatar National Vision is the priority given to human capital development. And in that, we have prioritised education, developing robust public health systems, investing in innovation and technology, investing in that ecosystem as a whole,” added, Sheikha Amna.Other speakers in the panel titled ‘Cooperation and Development in the Mena Region Amid a Polarised World,” included Nader Kabbani, senior fellow and director of research, Middle East Council, Ahmet Aysan, professor of Islamic Finance and Economy,Hamad Bin Khalifa University and Noha Aboueldahab, assistant professor of International Law, Georgetown University in Qatar. The session was moderated by Biplove Choudhary, technical representative and head of office, UNDP office in Doha.

An academic has highlighted that the energy policy is really about people and it is not just a material to be governed, as it is a political relationship with the people who extract it.Dr Trish Kahle, an assistant professor at Georgetown University in Qatar (GU-Q) said: “ How energy is governed in a country is the key to understanding its political system and agenda” while launching her first book 'Energy Citizenship: Coal and Democracy in the American Century.'Recently published by Columbia University Press Dr Kahle’s book highlights that energy and its governance have a profound impact on society as the foundation of political economy.Dr Kahle’s book delves into the human side of energy, offering a new perspective on the history of coal miners in America and the imprints they have left on the country's laws and political imagination. Yet her research is not confined to American history alone, it also addresses broader global trends affecting governance and injustice worldwide.“Labour injustice and environmental destruction associated with extractive mining has a long life, and can undercut a government’s aspirational claims to democracy, and people’s ability to participate in it, even if they receive financial benefits,” noted the academic.The connection between American energy and labour governance to global systems of inequality means that the book’s insightful treatment of the role of coal miners in shaping foundational energy justice principles offers a new understanding of energy citizenship critical to today’s discussions about a sustainable energy transition.“A shift to renewables isn’t enough to achieve energy justice on a global scale. You have to build a better energy system in order to achieve environmental justice,” she highlighted.Dr Kahle further discussed themes of labour justice, sustainable futures, and the process of decolonising energy humanities in the Gulf region at the book launch event hosted by the Center for International and Regional Studies (CIRS). Director of CIRS, Zahra Babar, moderated the event in conversation with the co-leaders of the CIRS Energy Humanities Research Initiative, Dr Kahle, Dr Firat Oruc, and Dr Victoria Googasian.In her book Dr Kahle examines the struggles of coal miners and the rights they fought to secure, from the Progressive Era in the 1880s through President Reagan’s election in 1980. She also emphasises the core contradictions between the mines as an engine of democratic politics, and a source of violence, oppression, and environmental destruction. The result is a strong case to rethink energy production in terms of its human costs and benefits, rather than solely thinking of the environmental costs and benefits. Whether the energy raw materials are used at home or abroad, considerations for energy laborers need to be at the heart of energy policy.“The message from this particular history has lots of resonance with today’s push to decarbonise energy systems,” advised Dr Kahle, who while writing the book has also concurrently read accounts of industries driving the renewables industry such as cobalt mines in the Congo, and lithium mines in Latin America.“I’m seeing this same story playing out again, but there is still time to make a difference. We have to realise that renewables are not inherently more just simply because they are not fossil fuels. Decarbonisation is not energy justice if you are perpetuating the same forms of extractivism and global inequality,” she added.

A research report by the World Innovation Summit for Innovation (WISH), the global health initiative of Qatar Foundation provides a comprehensive plan to contain obesity in children in Qatar through a multisectoral approach.Titled ‘Childhood Obesity in Qatar National policy proposal through multisectoral approaches,’ the report prepared by a team of leading officials and researchers in Qatar, highlights the challenges in containing childhood obesity and the need for joint efforts to counter it.The report assumes more significance as the county recently launched an action plan to tackle obesity, diabetes and modifiable risk factors for cardiovascular diseases at WISH 2024, which concluded in Doha Thursday.The policy report covers the mechanisms within the wider context of a recommended bespoke multisectoral model to address childhood obesity in Qatar. The report also makes policy recommendations to guide the development of effective interventions that promote healthy behaviours and lifestylesThe recommendations point to policy framework in areas such as: Food and nutrition; Health sector practices; Built environment; School settings; Family and community; and First 1,000 days of an infant.Typically, prevention and promotion policies in the health sector cover four main mechanisms: Fiscal measures such as taxes and subsidies; Laws and regulations as well as community engagement and informative education campaigns.Among the recommendations in Food and nutrition sector is the development of a framework for front-of-package labelling for Qatar that adopts a nutrient-specific warning system, and mandate its application. It also suggests to set guidelines to control and limit advertising of unhealthy food and beverages across all platforms targeting young children and adolescents.The report recommends developing guidelines for food product placement in physical outlets and digital platforms, giving prominence to healthy options and limiting unhealthy food within children’s reach.Other recommendations are to continue communicating the updated Qatar National Dietary Guidelines and develop advocacy programmes; evaluate impact of existing excise tax policy in Qatar and explore its expansion based on recommendations from Ministry of Public Health and explore mechanisms to make healthy food more affordable, including fruits and vegetables.Among the health sector practices the report looks at building on existing multistakeholder task forces and working groups to support with evidence-based guideline development and ‘good practice’ obesity prevention, screening, and treatment. It also points to expanding obesity treatment services and enhance integration with primary health service providers among others.Other major recommendations are to adopt and implement the Open Space Recreation and Sports Facilities Development Guidelines that encourage physical activity for everyone, irrespective of gender or ability; improve School Canteen Guidelines and promote their adoption by all schools and enhance screening for maternal obesity to identify women, and at-risk neonates, for education and close monitoring.

Bringing in more innovations in healthcare in a way that is much more embedded, is one of the top priorities for the new CEO of the World Innovation Summit for Health (WISH).Speaking to Gulf Times Wednesday Dr Slim Slama, said: “Our priority is also consolidation of the ideas and we have a national development vision. There is a lot of things happening in Qatar at the moment in the area of research and development and innovation."Dr Slama said that the WISH is of great focus but what comes before and after the event also matters a lot. “And for me, the vision I would have is to not only maintain the momentum of the Summit, but also to be able to mobilise it locally. We need to mobilise the academic and research institutions, and also the NGOs,” said the official.Dr Slama who was formerly working with the World Health Organisation (WHO) said that the reports presented at WISH carry a lot impact and need to be implemented in their true spirit.As for the collaboration with WHO, he said that with an agreement signed already with WISH, there are several reports jointly organised with WHO and presented this year at the Summit.“We will seek, of course, WHO's guidance as a global health authority. But we will also have different partners to have collective actions. There will be implementation after the recommendations that will emerge from the discussions.”“I think we would like to maintain this in line with the national agenda. We will be finding a balance between supporting the domestic agenda, as Qatar has adopted the new national strategy,” he added.

Qatar has witnessed great transformation in healthcare over the years, making it a world class health system, noted the former Minister of Public Health HE Dr Hanan Mohammed al-Kuwari on Wednesday.“Under the unwavering and unlimited support of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, and driven by Qatar National Vision 2030, Qatar has established a robust, world-class health system,” she told the opening session of the World Innovation Summit for Health (WISH) 2024.“At WISH, we strive to present the world's most cutting-edge ideas and scientific advancements, but we also focus on confronting the urgent health challenges before us. Qatar holds a firm belief in our shared responsibility to foster understanding, drive progress and uphold the spirit of global cooperation,” Dr al-Kuwari explained.The former minister commented that building upon the milestones attained by the health system, the Ministry of Public Health launched the third National Health Strategy for 2024-2030. “This strategy aims to enhance the health and well-being of the people of Qatar through excellence in service provision while ensuring sustainability and efficiency across an integrated, resilient health system,” she continued.“ This year's theme of WISH ‘Humanising Health, Conflict, Equity and Resilience, reflects our commitment to addressing the profound health challenges people face worldwide, especially those who have and continue to endure unimaginable hardship. We see this in the resilience personified in the story of a young Palestinian girl, Dareen al-Bayaa whose life changed when she lost her entire family in one day, reminding us of the human cost of conflict,” she highlighted.Dr al-Kuwari commented that the toll of war and displacement has tested humanity's resilience and underscored the urgent need for peace, health and protection and the opening day’s panel session on ‘Protecting Health in Armed Conflict’ focuses on this aspect. “This is about rebuilding lives, restoring hope and reimagining a future defined by compassion, adaptability and resilience. And it is in this spirit that the 7th edition of WISH is organised in collaboration with the World Health Organisation,” she pointed out.“Let us, together, shape a future where health is genuinely humanised and no community is left behind. Thank you for your commitment, for your partnership, and for joining us in this journey,” concluded Dr al-Kuwari.

Focusing on various challenges and the need for innovations in healthcare and with deliberations on some of the key current healthcare topics, the 7th edition of the biennial World Innovation Summit for Health (WISH) started Wednesday in the presence of Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, Chairperson of Qatar Foundation (QF).WISH, the global healthcare initiative of QF, is held under the theme, ‘Humanising Health: Conflict, Equity, and Resilience’ this year. The two-day summit is being attended by a number of luminaries and delegates from around the world.Present at the opening ceremony were QF Vice Chairperson and CEO HE Sheikha Hind bint Hamad al-Thani, HE the Minister of Public Health Mansoor bin Ebrahim bin Saad al-Mahmoud, the former Minister of Public Health HE Dr Hanan Mohamed al-Kuwari, WISH executive chair Lord Darzi of Denham, and Médecins Sans Frontières president Dr Christos Christou, among other dignitaries.Speaking at the opening session, HE Dr al-Kuwari, said: “Under the visionary leadership of Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, WISH continues to expand as a global community committed to making healthcare accessible and humane.“At WISH, we strive to present the world’s most cutting-edge ideas and scientific advancements. But we also focus on confronting the urgent challenges before us, particularly given that Qatar holds a firm belief in our shared responsibility to foster understanding, drive progress, and uphold the spirit of global cooperation.”The summit underscores the need for health innovation that supports everyone, leaves no one behind, and builds resilience, particularly for vulnerable communities and in regions affected by armed conflict.Lord Darzi highlighted the challenges faced by those working to provide care during armed conflict. He said: “War is a healthcare catastrophe. There can never be any justification for targeting healthcare personnel or infrastructure – it is purely and simply wrong. We must stand together to condemn such actions and honour those who courageously continue to provide care in the most appalling conditions.”Reflecting on the summit theme of conflict, equity, and resilience, Dr Christou said he was gravely concerned that attacks on healthcare facilities and workers have become the “new norm”.“We need to know that there is a place that is respected, and that place is a hospital. We are scrambling without basic medicines, anaesthetics or antibiotics. There are many doctors in Gaza who are amputating on children without anaesthetic, for example,” Dr Christou said.When asked about the neutrality of Médecins Sans Frontières, he reiterated that the values of the organisation remain consistent, and they treat all in need, but doctors “have a mandate to bear witness, to be a voice of the voiceless.... Neutrality means many things, but it does not mean silence.”A film shown during the opening ceremony told the story of 11-year-old Dareen al-Bayaa, a Palestinian girl who lost 47 members of her extended family as a result of a devastating attack on her home in Gaza, with only Dareen and her five-year-old brother surviving and being taken to Doha for medical treatment. “Why is it OK for me to suffer? Is this fair?” asked Dareen in the film.Ahead of the summit, WISH entered into a strategic partnership with the World Health Organisation (WHO), collaborating on the development of a series of evidence-based reports and policy papers, as well as working with the United Nations’ health agency to develop a post-summit implementation strategy.The summit has brought together more than 200 experts in health to discuss evidence-based ideas and practices in healthcare innovation with the aim of addressing the world’s most urgent global health challenges.Day one of the summit hosted discussion forums based on reports published by WISH and the WHO, alongside roundtable discussions and open sessions.The opening session was followed by a discussion based on the joint WISH and WHO 2024 report titled ‘In the line of fire: Protecting health in armed conflict’, chaired by Richard Brennan, the regional emergency director of the Eastern Mediterranean Regional Office of the WHO. He was joined by expert speakers including Yousuf al-Khater, president of Qatar Red Crescent Society; and Sigrid Kaag, the United Nations’ Senior Humanitarian and Reconstruction Coordinator for Gaza.

Qatar will launch the Action Plan (2024-2030) on Obesity, Diabetes and Modifiable Risk Factors for ASCVDs (Atherosclerotic cardiovascular Diseases) at the World Innovation Summit for Health (WISH) 2024 Thursday, coinciding with World Diabetes Day.Prof Abdul-Badi Abou-Samra, co-chair, National Diabetes Committee and director, Qatar Metabolic Institute, Hamad Medical Corporation, revealed some of the details of the plan at a diabetes care symposium at the University of Doha for Science and Technology.“The Action Plan aims to prevent and optimally manage diabetes, obesity and modifiable risk factors. It plans to empower the public, patients, and the healthcare professionals to address the challenges of obesity, diabetes and modifiable risk factors,” said Prof Abou-Samra.The official noted that the action plan aims at several areas such as obesity reduction, enhanced diabetes management and risk factors control among others. He explained: “The Action Plan 2024-2030 includes 58 projects targeting diabetes and obesity prevention and management in Qatar combining ongoing efforts such as screenings, primary care empowerment and guidelines update with newly proposed projects. Each project is assigned to specific institutions responsible for structured implementations. The National Diabetes Committee will monitor the progress of the projects, ensuring alignment with health priorities and achievements of the expected outcome.”According to Prof Abou-Samra, the Action Plan 2024-2030 targets reduction in obesity prevalence among Qatari population from 39.7% to align with the non-Qatari levels (32.2%) focusing on proactive management and comprehensive public health efforts across all age groups.“It also aims to enhance diabetes management by stabilising diabetes prevalence through advanced treatments, weight management and new tools for blood glucose monitoring. Qatar aims to reduce complications for both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes supported by initiatives like Qatar Genome Project for Precision medicine,” continued the official.With 37% adults having three or more risk factors in the country, the action plan aims to decrease it to 30% by empowering primary care, expanding national screening and intensifying prevention programmes to reach 75% of the targeted population.“As we advance toward implementing the action plan, we are focussing on comprehensive strategies to address the root causes of obesity and diabetes in Qatar. Our approach aims to empower individuals, families and communities with the knowledge and resources to make healthier choices while strengthening preventive healthcare services and enabling primary care to deliver care closer to home,” highlighted Prof Abou-Samra.He said that there were two consultation workshops to prepare the action plan.“We had six months of development, six drafts and 50 subject matter experts reviewed the draft. International consultants have also reviewed the document, and we have had multidimensional diabetes committee meetings, and eight key committee and the department engagements,” he added.

The third diabetes care symposium organised by the University of Doha for Science and Technology ( UDST) outlined a roadmap for diabetes care in the country as well as the present challenges and the current trends in non-communicable diseases.At the event, Sheikh Dr Mohamed bin Hamad al-Thani, director of Non-Communicable Disease Prevention Programmes, Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) revealed the findings of the STEPwise survey 2023 conducted in Qatar and highlighted the progress made in meeting the challenges posed by non-communicable diseases. He also pointed out that more actions are needed to meet the challenges and the public should follow a physically active lifestyle to prevent such diseases.Held the under the theme "Empowering Person-Centered Diabetes Care and Innovation’’ held in collaboration with the National Diabetes Committee, MoPH, and Novo Nordisk, the symposium highlighted Qatar’s commitment to enhancing diabetes care and education.In addition to Sheikh Dr Mohamed: Prof Abdul-Badi Abou-Samra co-chair, National Diabetes Committee, MoPH and director, Qatar Metabolic Institute, Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC); Dr Rayana Ahmed Bou Haka, official representative of the World Health Organisation office in Qatar; and several researchers, guests, faculty and students were present at the symposium.The symposium featured a dynamic programme, including presentations, panel discussions, and an exhibition showcasing innovative advancements in diabetes care. This year's theme aligns with the International Diabetes Federation's vision for 2024–2026, aiming to improve the quality of life for diabetes patients by empowering healthcare professionals and students with the necessary knowledge and skills.Dr Salem al-Naemi, president, UDST, commented: "This symposium serves as a vital scientific forum for healthcare professionals, where they exchange ideas and concepts on the latest trends in diabetes care. Through this symposium, we aim to empower healthcare providers to apply the latest strategies that contribute to improving the quality of life and health outcomes for diabetes patients. Diabetes represents a major global health challenge, and this symposium highlights the importance of collaboration and innovation in addressing this challenge."Prof Abou-Samra, emphasised the importance of the forthcoming Action Plan (2024-2030) on Obesity, Diabetes and Modifiable Risk Factors for ASCVDs (Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease) which will be officially launched at the World Innovation Summit for Health (WISH) 2024 on November 14th coinciding with World Diabetes Day.Venkat Kalyan, vice president and general manager of Novo Nordisk Gulf, underscored the critical need to raise awareness about diabetes as a severe, chronic, and recurrent condition that has reached high prevalence levels in Qatar.An exhibition took place alongside the symposium, featuring participation from several prominent healthcare institutions and private sector organisations, including MoP), the National Obesity Treatment Centre, the National Diabetes Research Centre, and the Diabetes Education team of the Qatar Metabolic Institute, HMC, Primary Health Care Corporation, Sidra Medicine, The View Hospital, Qatar Diabetes Association, Ali bin Ali Medical, Wellcare Group, and Gateway Technology Healthcare. Additionally, UDST’s Master of Science in Diabetes Care and Patient Education Programme was highlighted during the event.

Paying rich dividends to the policies and efforts of the country, the diabetes prevalence in Qatar, as per the findings of the STEPwise Survey 2023, stands at 15.35%, marking a drop of 1.35% compared to the previous survey in 2012.This was announced by Sheikh Dr Mohamed bin Hamad al-Thani, Director, Non-Communicable Diseases Prevention Programmes Department, Ministry of Public Health, on Monday, at a diabetes care symposium at the University of Doha for Science and Technology (UDST).“In the STEPwise survey of 2023, there is a 1.35% decrease among the respondents having high fasting glucose or being treated for high fasting glucose compared to the previous survey in 2012. In the 2012 STEPWise survey it was 16.70% and it has been reduced to 15.35% as per the latest survey,” he explained.A total of 7,448 people participated in the 2023 survey, including 3,459 women and 3,989 men, aged 18-69. The respondents comprised a total of 3,686 Qataris (2,106 males and 1,580 females) and 3,762 non-Qataris (1,883 males and 1,879 females), according to the official, who clarified that the 2012 survey covered only Qataris.The 2023 survey assessed several risk factors. It included behavioural risks including tobacco use, unhealthy diet, physical inactivity; biological risk factors of overweight and obesity, raised blood pressure, raised blood glucose and abnormal blood lipids.There were three different steps of risk factor assessment such as questionnaire, physical measurements and blood and urine samples.Sheikh Dr Mohammed pointed out that the 2023 survey was delayed due to Covid-19 pandemic. He also revealed several other findings of the survey suggesting steady progress in several areas of non-communicable diseases and risk factors.“In Obesity, there is a decrease from 41.40% in 2012 to 39.20% in 2023 marking a steady improvement. Similarly, the percentage of respondents who smoke has come down from 16.40% in 2012 to 12.50% in 2023. There is a decrease of 3.9% in smokers.”Sheikh Dr Mohamed said there is also a 14% reduction in the number of respondents having three or more risk factors. It was 50.6%in 2012 and 36.7% in 2023. However, there is a decrease of 14.9% in people who do not eat enough fruits and vegetables compared to the previous survey and the respondents in 2023 spent 17 minutes less per day doing physical activity in comparison with the previous survey.According to Sheikh Dr Mohammed, Qatar’s multifaceted approach has shown progress in addressing non-communicable diseases in the country and continued efforts are essential for a healthier future. He also urged the communities to leave their smartphones for some time on a daily basis and engage in more physical activities regularly.“The improvement could at least partially be attributed to the policies implemented so far and various interventions at different stages. Despite the improvements, non-communicable diseases along with risk factors still impose a great threat to the population. Continued efforts in health promotion, health in all policies and the Healthy Cities initiative are crucial for a healthier future,” he added.

Qatar Foundation’s (QF) Pre-University Education (PUE) is transforming secondary education through the establishment of the Education City High School by combining students from three of its schools.Qatar Academy Doha (QAD), Qatar Academy Sidra (QAS), and Qatar Academy for Science and Technology (QAST) are the schools working under this innovative and forward-thinking model.Mehdi Benchaabane, executive director of QF International Baccalaureate (IB) Schools and director of QAD and Education City High School, in an interview published on QF website highlights that the open campus model is central to the vision of Education City High School.“The idea for Education City High School emerged three years ago as we looked at QF’s multiversity strategy and the concept of an open campus. At the time, we saw an opportunity to foster collaboration between QAD and QAS with the aim was to pool our resources and create a more balanced educational experience” said, Benchaabane.“This model evolved further when QAST joined us, bringing the Advanced Placement programme with a focus on STEM education. The integration of these schools not only enriched the academic experience but also laid the foundation for Education City High School, which now operates with the core principles of resource-sharing, personalised pathways and an open campus model,” He explained.According to the official, the Education City High School offers a range of academic pathways designed to accommodate students’ varied interests, strengths, and aspirations.“When we combined students from different schools to share resources, our main goal was to broaden the range of choices and tailor the learning experience to each student’s needs.We began by expanding subject options within the IB Diploma programme, then introduced the IB Career-related Programme, which was authorised last year. When QAST joined, we added the STEM High School Diploma programme with Advanced Placement courses , providing a third pathway for students,” continued, Benchaabane.Last year the school introduced a fourth pathway through the collaboration with the Ministry of Education and Higher Education, strengthening the high school diploma with external validation, to offer more flexibility for personalised learning.According to Benchaabane, the Education City High School allows students to access the vast resources of Education City, including universities, research centres, and innovation hubs. He noted: “This principle is built on the belief that learning should not be confined to a single school; instead, students should be immersed in an ecosystem where they can engage with higher education institutions, industry professionals, and cutting-edge research.”The school, with a capacity for 550 students, primarily serves those from QF schools but is expanding to welcome more external students. “This year, 25 non-QF students joined, and we aim for up to one-third of our capacity to be filled by them, enriching our community and broadening access to quality education. Admission considerations are the academic performance, behaviour, attendance, and a student's commitment to personal development. Each academic pathway has specific requirements, and we work to place students in the programme that best aligns with their needs,” highlighted the official.“The open campus model allows students to move between buildings, fostering independence and preparing them for university life. Additionally, the model is physically represented in the way students move between buildings for their classes,” he pointed out.“Moreover, we plan to extend the benefits of this location to the wider community by offering after-school programmes and access to our facilities. This will allow students from other schools to experience life at Education City High School and take advantage of the unique resources available here,” added, the official.

A Qatar based organisation has been shortlisted for the prestigious WISE Prize for Education, a global recognition for innovative education programmes or individuals.Bonocle, an organisation headquartered in Qatar is among the six finalists for the WISE Prize 2024-25 selected by World Innovation Summit for Education (WISE) a global education initiative by Qatar Foundation.Bonocle’s core innovation is its gamified approach to braille education. Bonocle transforms braille education with a gamified platform, making learning accessible, engaging, and fun for blind students.The platform stands out by making braille learning fun through inclusive games that can be enjoyed by everyone, not just the visually impaired. It has a global outreach and is now available in the US, Canada, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE.Bonocle highly focuses on inclusion. The platform is designed not only for blind users but also engages their sighted parents, friends, and colleagues. This approach enhances educational experiences and social integration, ensuring that blind individuals can learn and interact inclusively within their communities.Bonocle’s journey began when its founder Abdelrazek Aly met with an accident and broke his hand. Aly joined a special needs centre at his university during his recovery. It was there that he first interacted with the blind community, witnessing their challenges firsthand. This experience inspired Aly and his team to challenge existing solutions and ensure that people with disabilities are fully included in society, with access to the same quality education and opportunities as everyone else.Key features of Bonocle are that it provides a portable device ensuring braille is always at the user’s fingertips. It has inclusive games incorporating tactile feedback, sounds, motion, and haptics. It is highly affordable, making quality education accessible to all. Furthermore it is an open and dynamic platform with a growing library of content and offers diverse use cases beyond basic literacy, including gaming and social interaction.Since its inception Bonocle has achieved several partnerships and collaborations with NGOs and major distributors. It has been recognised for the K design Award and Aly was listed in Forbes 30 Under 30. It has enhanced braille literacy through innovative educational tools. It also hosted the first inclusive gaming tournament during the FIFA World Cup 2022.According to the team of Bonocle, it aims to become a global leader in accessible education within five years and keep the platform open and dynamic, allowing continuous contributions and innovations from the blind community and partners. It also aims to expand the library of content and diverse use cases and integrate seamlessly into diverse educational environments. Ultimately, the programme hopes to empower the blind community to develop their own solutions and contribute to the platform.This year the WISE Prize will work with the chosen finalists over the span of one year to develop solutions that addresses education challenges in the field of: Improving the teaching of Arabic language; accelerating foundational literacies and addressing challenges in AI.Bonocle addresses the WISE Prize challenges: Artificial Intelligence in Education; teaching of Arabic Language and foundational literacies. The solution directly addresses these challenges by leveraging technology to enhance braille literacy, focusing on foundational skills through gamification and innovative educational tools.This year’s WISE Prize for Education competition received a total of 427 applications and the winner will be awarded the $1mn at the WISE12 Summit in 2025, where the winner will be announced live.