* Former British foreign minister to share insights on health impact of conflict around the world at QF member summit
The World Innovation Summit for Health (WISH), an initiative of Qatar Foundation (QF), has announced David Miliband as a keynote speaker at its forthcoming global gathering at the Qatar National Convention Centre in Doha from November 13 to 14.
Miliband is the president and CEO of the International Rescue Committee (IRC), a New York-based organisation, which currently operates in more than 40 countries.
Since its formation in 1933, IRC has provided emergency aid and long-term assistance to refugees and people displaced by war, persecution, or natural disaster.
Immediately before joining the IRC in 2013, Miliband was a member of the British parliament, taking on the role of foreign minister from 2007 to 2010.
He will bring to WISH 2018 extensive experience both as a government representative and as the head of a major international non-governmental organisation. His speech is expected to focus on the health impact of conflicts around the world.
Ahead of this year’s summit, representatives from the IRC have joined with representatives from other humanitarian organisations, including the World Health Organisation and Qatar Red Crescent, to compile a special WISH report on health in conflict settings – one of nine research topics that will form the core of WISH 2018.
Looking forward to his visit to Doha in November, Miliband, said: “This summit comes at a critical time, when millions of people around the world – in particular women and girls – are dying from preventable diseases in countries affected by conflict and natural disasters.”
“The IRC is delivering healthcare in some of the hardest to reach and most dangerous places and I look forward to sharing our experience, but to also learn from other leading innovators at the summit,” he added.
WISH executive chair, professor the Lord Darzi of Denham, said: “Miliband’s experience on the international stage as a senior government minister and latterly as the head of an organisation that is intimately involved in finding solutions to health challenges faced by people in conflict settings around the world makes him uniquely qualified to speak with nuance and authority about an issue that deserves the attention of our WISH community.”
WISH 2018 will once again gather global healthcare leaders in Doha to highlight and address some of the world’s most pressing healthcare challenges.
WISH, which hosts its showcase summit biennially, has quickly established itself as a major highlight of the global healthcare calendar for the thousands of high-level policy-makers, academics, and professionals who attend.
WISH has also become a key platform for the dissemination of healthcare innovation and best practices.
