Health Affairs has published its September issue on global healthcare policy, featuring 10 articles written by World Innovation Summit for Health (WISH) authors and contributors.

WISH, an initiative of Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development (QF), inspires and diffuses healthcare innovation and best practice through a global network of high-level policymakers, academics and industry leaders. It remains closely aligned to the vision and mission of QF to unlock human potential and serve to underscore Qatar’s pioneering role as an emerging centre for healthcare innovation.

The launch of the new issue of Health Affairs took place yesterday at the National Press Club in Washington DC, USA, and brought together more than 150 leading figures from around the world, including the US and Qatar, representing academia, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and the media.

Following opening remarks by Mr Alan Weil, Health Affairs’ Editor in Chief, Professor the Lord Darzi of Denham, Executive Chair of WISH and Director of the Institute of Global Health Innovation at Imperial College London, discussed key international health policy issues with Mark McClellan, Director, Initiative of Global Health Innovation at the Brookings Institution, Washington DC. Later in the morning a number of WISH report authors presented their findings on topics ranging from diffusing innovation in global healthcare to health policy and the use of big data.

Following the September issue launch, WISH held a luncheon during which Dr Mohamad Fathy Saoud, Senior Advisor to Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, Chairperson of Qatar Foundation; and Professor the Lord Darzi, introduced Qatar Foundation and education city to a US academic audience.

Health Affairs is the leading journal of health policy thought and research, focusing on policy issues at a local, regional and international level. The journal promotes analysis and facilitates ongoing discussions on ways to improve health and healthcare issues.

The September issue of Health Affairs features 10 articles inspired by WISH and its partners about the following key global healthcare issues:

· Challenges in Adapting International Best Practices in Cancer Prevention, Care, and Research for Qatar

· Accountable Care Around The World: A Framework To Guide Reform Strategies and To Achieve Progress

· Antimicrobial Resistance: Addressing The Global Threat Through Greater Awareness And Transformative Action

· How Google’s ‘Ten Things We Know To Be True’ Could Guide The Development Of Mental Health Mobile Apps

· Policy Actions To Achieve Integrated Community-Based Mental Health Services

· Innovation Can Improve And Expand Aspects Of End-Of-Life-Care In Low And Middle-Income Countries

· Patient Engagement: Four Case Studies That Highlight The Potential For Improved Health Outcomes And Reduced Costs

· Revolutionizing Medicine and Public Health Strategic Action to Combat the Obesity Epidemic

· Developing Public Policy To Advance The Use Of Big Data In Health Care

· Lessons from Eight Countries on Diffusing Innovation In Health Care

Engineer Saad Al Muhannadi, President of Qatar Foundation, said: “Health Affairs’ inclusion of 10 articles written by WISH authors and contributors in its latest issue demonstrates the progress made by Qatar and Qatar Foundation in becoming a key influence for change in the global healthcare sphere. The high quality and original work of the papers being published by Health Affairs signal that WISH is on the right track in addressing some of the most pressing healthcare challenges seen across the world today.”

Lord Darzi added: “Collaboration underpins everything we do at WISH - this is an excellent example of how our global community of healthcare experts supports the spread of new ideas by sharing high quality content and research.

“Each of the articles included by Health Affairs share a common theme – action focused best practice but realistic approaches that can facilitate practical improvements in healthcare provision in areas ranging from cancer care in the Arabian Gulf to the development of mobile technology to improve mental health. It also demonstrates the breadth and lasting value of our activities – WISH is not just an annual summit but a living, dynamic community with global reach that is using evidence-based research to make a real difference. This edition of Health Affairs will make our work easily accessible and readily available to healthcare professionals across the world.”

Mr Weil said: “Policy makers in the US and the rest of the world are currently facing a range of complex health challenges, from rising incidences of cancer to increasing Antimicrobial Resistance. To ensure that public policy is effective in addressing and solving these problems, evidence, research and analysis must play a central role. The research papers being published this month inspired by the World Innovation Summit for Health and discussed today in Washington DC, cover ten important global healthcare issues and bring together international experts and evidence from across the world. We believe the global perspective on these issues will provide policy makers in the US and beyond with a unique and significant resource of high quality research and information.”

WISH’s special contribution to the latest Health Affairs journal reflects its increasingly prominent role in bringing together leading innovators in healthcare policy, research and industry, and providing evidence-based research to address pressing global health challenges. The second World Innovation Summit for Health (WISH) will take place on 17-18 February 2015 in Doha, Qatar.

For more information about WISH and the 2015 Summit, please visit www.wish.org.qa.

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