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Doha health summit concludes with appeal for increased collaboration
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The economics of health -- Former US treasury secretary Lawrence H. Summers gives a keynote speech on the second day of the 2016 World Innovation Summit for Health (WISH) in Doha on Wednesday. (JP/Elly Burhaini Faizal)
D
elegates highlighted the importance of stronger collaboration to find cross-border solutions to global health care issues on the second day of this year’s World Innovation Summit for Health (WISH) in Doha.
Former US treasury secretary Lawrence H. Summers called on countries to increase funding to tackle transnational healthcare challenges, such as by developing medicines and vaccines for diseases, increase pandemic preparedness and rethink priorities in healthcare policymaking.
The economist said that currently only 20 percent of donor support for health went toward global efforts.
“If a country invests in better health clinics, its citizens capture all the benefits of the investment. If it invests in pandemic preparation or vaccine research or development of new service delivery techniques, the benefits flow around the world. [...] Without global cooperation, the world will underinvest in global public goods and global functions,” he said.
Summers said increasing the share of donor support for global healthcare efforts to 50 percent by 2030 could save millions from death by pandemic, smoking-related illnesses, obesity and other diseases. At the same time, developing economies could better address their domestic healthcare needs.
More than 1,400 delegates from more than 100 countries, including nearly 40 ministry-level representatives, attended the two-day summit, which ended on Wednesday.
DeepMind co-founder Mustafa Suleyman said in his keynote speech that a vast array of technological advancement existed to enhance healthcare.
“We looked at many different application areas, but none seemed to struggle more with technology than healthcare, none seemed to have a margin of improvement that was as striking as the opportunities that we see in healthcare. I think digitization is absolutely critical when it comes to delivering safe and high-quality care.”
WISH executive chair Lord Ara Darzi said that in the summit, experts and innovators had shared their solutions to the most stubborn health problems.
“Our global community of innovators leave Doha informed, inspired and energized by this landmark summit. We return to more than 100 countries with new friendships and connections that will endure.”
