Delegates at the WISH 2018 event.
Doha: Qatar Foundation announced that the upcoming global gathering of the World Innovation Summit for Health in its sixth version will take place on October 4-6 in the immediate run-up to the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022. This version will be held under the theme of Healing the Future and will last for three days.
This year's summit will include a major focus on exploring the potential health legacy of the FWC Qatar 2022 tournament, as well as other key areas of focus such as the post-COVID-19 legacy, disability and accessibility, and health wellbeing. Additionally, the summit will shed light on issues such as antimicrobial resistance and health care in conflict areas.
The summit- held every two years- will discuss various modern critical health issues in a dedicated session which will include: Building health system resilience: lessons from COVID-19, the Mental health of health and care workers, Vaccine and pharmaceutical innovation, Islamic ethics and the healthcare of children in the age of genetics, Mental health and sports,
Climate change, food security and health, Patient empowerment through patient-focused digital tools, Future Hospitals; COVID-19 legacy, and Healthcare waste management and sustainability.
Each panel discussion is underpinned by an evidence-based policy report drafted ahead of the summit by industry experts that offer concrete policy recommendations for governments, aimed at making healthcare more accessible, equitable and affordable. Furthermore, three additional sessions will explore healthcare in the context of this year's FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, with these sessions also based around newly published reports specially commissioned for WISH 2022.
The basis on which the WISH 2022 Summit will establish itself will be a commitment to sustainability and inclusion. Moreover, the upcoming summit will promote appropriate solutions to overcome global health challenges, which aim to create more sustainable practices in the healthcare sector and provide care services that suit all financial capabilities.
WISH 2022 will witness the participation of healthcare experts, several health ministers, and industry leaders such as the Developer of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine Prof. Dame Sarah Gilbert, and the CEO of the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations Dr. Richard Hatchett. Moreover, elite sportspeople and renowned artists, like the Columbian contemporary fine artist Dairo Vargas, will also be participating at the summit. Art in the form of live painting and photographic exhibitions will form the core of several critical discussions on such topics as mental health and wellbeing and destigmatizing disability in the Arab world.
Also back this year are the popular WISH Agora sessions, which aim to recreate the inclusive and interactive atmosphere of ancient Greek assemblies that existed as platforms for frank and open conversations. At WISH 2022, the Agoras will explore topics such as workplace stress, safeguarding the mental health of medical students, and how to keep health systems ready for future emergencies.
Ahead of the summit, WISH will host Doha Healthcare Week starting on September 29. The week will engage Qatar's local community by offering a wide range of wellness activities aimed at improving both physical and mental health and catered for both children and adults. The full program of Doha Healthcare Week will be announced over the coming weeks. (QNA)
