Lord Darzi Awarded Sash of Independence

On 16 January 2014, His Highness Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani, Amir of Qatar, conferred upon Lord Darzi of Denham, Executive Chair of WISH and Director of the Institute of Global Health Innovation at Imperial College London, the Sash of Independence in recognition of his contribution to the development of the health sector in Qatar.

The Sash of Independence is awarded only to senior members of government, to Qatari citizens for their outstanding services to the country, and to foreigners for their exceptional services to the country.

On receiving the award, Lord Darzi said: “I am honored and privileged to receive the Sash of Independence, and thank His Highness and the Qatari nation for such recognition.”

Lord Darzi has been a prominent international advisor on healthcare to Qatar since 2010 and he is a member of the Supreme Council of Health Executive Committee. He has been integral to the development and ongoing implementation of Qatar’s National Health Strategy, leading on the development of the National Cancer Strategy and Qatar’s National Primary Healthcare Strategy 2013-2018.

Working with Qatar Foundation, Lord Darzi has hosted annual summits for the most important figures in healthcare. In 2012, he hosted the Global Health Policy Summit in London, and in December 2013, under the patronage of Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, Chairperson of Qatar Foundation, he launched the World Innovation Summit for Health (WISH). The event brought together more than 1,000 representatives of governments, business leaders, academics, clinicians, new media pioneers, and the third sector to help unravel some of the most pressing global health challenges facing the world today.

“As a clinician, I have dedicated my professional life to the pursuit of high quality care,” said Lord Darzi. “It is a privilege to be working with talented colleagues in Qatar who share that driving motivation to provide the best possible care to their patients.”