Summit reports call for ‘action’

A number of reports calling for action on top global health concerns were launched during the two-day World Innovation Summit on Health (WISH).The reports are on obesity, anti-microbial resistance (AMR), road traffic injuries (RTI), accountable health care, patient engagement, mental health and big data and healthcare.Experts examined obesity related health problems in eight countries, as well as the economic and social burdens it creates. The report also observed that obesity is a non-communicable disease but has reached epidemic proportions globally and has led to a sharp increase in related conditions such as heart disease, diabetes and cancer. International Obesity Task Force at University of Pennsylvania and Obesity forum chair Professor Shiriki Kumanyika said: “Public recognition of obesity as an important and non-communicable health crisis is not a debatable issue anymore.  Besides the financial healthcare costs related to obesity and its resulting illnesses, there will be other draining costs on economies. Globally we need to do more to build awareness in our schools and worksites.”AMR report examined a range of innovative solutions from around the world from the prevention and control of infection and the eradication of improper use of antibiotics to the need for research and development of new vaccines.Recommendations to global policy makers included building awareness and education on the appropriate use of antibiotics, conservation and judicious dissemination of antibiotics, and making sanitation and hygiene a public health priority. Speaking about the report, UK’s Chief Medical officer Professor and AMR forum chair Dame Sally Davies said: “Antimicrobial resistance is increasing all the time and the threat it poses is real and serious.  If we are to tackle this, we need to work together to find ways to increase awareness about the unnecessary use of antibiotics but also increase and encourage research into new antibiotics and bacterial vaccines.” The RTI report revealed that crash injuries is the eighth leading cause of death globally and the leading cause of death for young people aged 15-29 years. The annual global cost of dealing with the consequences of these crashes – including trauma care – runs into billions of dollars. Prof Adnan A Hyder of the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health of International Health Department and RTI forum chair said: “Increasing road safety awareness requires participation and dialogue between governments, healthcare providers, and the general public. “Countries also need to consider improvements in their cost and delivery of trauma care for road injury accidents.”