HH Sheikha Moza meets young innovators, attends closing plenary of WISH.

Delegates from around the world today concluded the World innovation Summit for Health (WISH), which saw them share new research on cancer, ideas on tackling dementia, insightsinto Ebola and evidence on preventing diabetes. 

Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser attended this morning’s panel discussion entitled ‘global diffusion of healthcare innovation/leading health systems network’. The panel included Dr Hanan Al Kuwari, Managing Director, Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC); Mr. Egbert Schillings, CEO of WISH; as well as senior figures from the UK, US, and Australia. A study on the diffusion of healthcare innovation across the world was published at the inaugural WISH Summit in 2013. Further research on this topic was presented at this year’s summit, focusing on accelerating the adoption of healthcare innovations with case studies from eight healthcare systems from across theglobe.

Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser and Her Royal HighnessPrincess Lalla Salma, President of Lalla Salma Foundation: Cancer Prevention and Treatment, also visited the WISH innovation gallery, which showcased a range of healthcare innovations from across the world, including practical devices such as affordable clean birth kits, and campaigns including the Your Health First campaign being led by the Weill Cornell Medical College in Qatar. Her Highness spoke to representatives of Peek Vision, a portable eye examination kit, and MIT’s Little Devices Lab. Her Highness also met a group of young innovators, including those behind Hamad Medical Corporation’s 'How Was Your Visit’ app-based patient experience survey, which is helping to improve healthcare services

The World innovation Summit for Health (WISH), a global initiative of Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development, is a melting pot of Ministers, experts, policymakers and academics all dedicated to overcoming the growing health threats of today facing everyone. 

Report recommendations included a ‘pay for results’ model for cancer drugs, adopting the power of celebrity to better communicate complexhealth messages and utilising military technology to influence healthy behaviour. Alongside the research and reports published, 25 truly innovative inventions were showcased to offer new, cheaper, easier and more effective healthcare in matters such as cleft palate treatment, hearing aids, prosthetics and cataract treatment.

By hosting over 1000 delegates from over 80 different countries WISH delivers ideas, innovations, solutions and action that can be translated into real-life policy to make healthcare more effective and more affordable for everyone. At the end of two full days of panels, presentations and discussions WISH has addressed many different health issues including Affordable CancerCare, Maternal and Newborn Health and Communicating Complex Health Messages. Two special panels were also hosted; one on the on-going challenge of maternal and new-born health held in partnership with The Gates Foundation and one on the threat of Ebola looking at controlling infectious diseases and one on Genomics, looking at the future of personalised medicine.