•Written by Edward Girardet• ••Sunday•, 07 •February• 2010 19:53•
The Geneva Health Forum will be holding its third symposium on global access to health 19-21 April, 2010 in Geneva. This year’s focus will be on Globalization, Crisis and Health Systems: Confronting Regional Perspectives. The symposium, which expects to draw – as before - over 1,000 participants will explore how, over the last decade, global health has undergone substantial transformations. For a long time politically neglected, global health issues have acquired prominence not only among concerned international organizations and civil society groups, but also, increasingly, governments. This momentum, however, is now being challenged. And not just by conservative anti-Obama forces in the United States.
According to the organizers, four major crises – food security, fuel supplies, economic slowdowns and climate change - are severely jeopardizing recent health accomplishments. These are further exacerbating the strains on healthcare services, health professionals, and local communities. Pandemics, the rise of non-communicable diseases, the increasing mobility of health professionals, and the rapid diversification of actors in the health sector are all examples of challenges that call for more comprehensive and integrated approaches.
The 2010 Geneva Health Forum aims to identify sustainable responses to these and other crises by emphasising lessons learned from local and regional initiatives. GHF participants will have the chance to formulate potential reforms and innovation by revealing the weaknesses and disparities of these crises. By stimulating a new dynamic involving all health sector stakeholders, they can also explore new forms of governance and partnering.
In addition, the GHF will investigate how innovative research and technologies can influence practice to facilitate access to health and care. Special emphasis will be given to e-health technologies, which create unique opportunities to disseminate information to improve practices.
For the Geneva Health Forum organizers, the symposium lends a direct voice to participants from the world over to offer case studies and experiences from which all can learn. You will hear the realities from the field, and participate in discussions and debates on how these realities relate to health policy.
The Forum says its depends on on participants to help us create the circumstances that can make change happen and improve global access to health worldwide.
A joint initiative launched in partnership with the major international organizations active in health in Geneva and around the world, the Geneva Health Forum brings together the many stakeholders in global access to health – from actors in the field to policy-makers. The GHF, as a developing global network for international and inter-sectoral dialogue, has the vision of facilitating the strengthening of health systems and basic health services, thus striving to keep global access to health active on the international agenda.
As before, the Media21 Global Journalism Network will be holding a parallel workshop with field trips to highlight the
For complete information and updates www.genevahealthforum.org www.ghf10.org
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