By Asmau Ahmad
The President of the World Health Summit, Axel Pries, has expressed worries that the world is facing global threats, which demand a global response to have them addressed.
He said that achieving significant progress in Universal Health Coverage (UHC) or in fighting the climate crisis is a mirage if the world does not establish more trust.
According to the President, who spoke in a statement ahead of the World Health Summit today, the Summit brings together stakeholders and decision-makers from all relevant areas, politics, academia, the private sector and civil society in a friendly atmosphere.
He explained that the Summit stimulates the search for new approaches to imminent challenges and generates new alliances in their implementation.
“We will not be able to achieve significant progress in UHC or in fighting the climate crisis if we do not establish more trust within and between nations and strengthen our multinational cooperation. We are facing global threats, which demand a global response,” he added.
Pries stated that the World Health Summit covers the full spectrum of global health-related themes, saying that this year’s summit started on October 15, 2023, and will run through October 17, 2023.
According to him, the theme of the 2023 Summit is ‘A Defining Year for Global Health Action.’
“The World Health Summit integrates discussions from many events throughout the year, including the World Health Assembly, G7, G20 and BRICS meetings and several initiatives on financing UHC,” he said.
The statement by the Summit media contact, Alida Tiekötter, indicated that the Summit is the unique international strategic forum for global health being held annually in Berlin, which brings together stakeholders from all walks of life from around the world to set the agenda for a healthier future by inspiring innovative solutions for better health and well-being for all.
“The Summit 2023 takes place from October 15-17 in Berlin, Germany and online. Expected are more than 300 speakers in over 60 sessions and participants from around 100 countries. The whole programme will also be available online.
“Central topics at the World Health Summit 2023 include: Learning from COVID-19 for Future Pandemic Prevention; Preparedness and Response Recommitting to Universal Health Coverage; Sustainable Health for People and Planet and G7/G20 Measures to Enhance Global Health Equity and Security.”
Others include harnessing the power of digital technologies for global health; WHO’s 75th Anniversary and innovations to accelerate the fight against tuberculosis.
It noted that the World Health Summit strengthens collaboration and open dialogue guided by science, fosters global health as a key political issue and promotes the global health debate in the spirit of the UNSDG.
“The Summit stands for a science-driven and broad approach to global health development. The key issues are, therefore, interdisciplinary, science-based, and cross-sectoral.
“The Summit promotes health as a human right, along with good governance, as political decisions affect human health. The World Health Summit was founded in 2009 on the occasion of the 300th anniversary of Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin.
“It is traditionally held under the patronage of the German Chancellor, the French President, and the Director-General of the WHO.”
