WORLD DIABETES DAY HIGHLIGHTS NEED FOR ACTION AND INNOVATION AS STATISTICS SHOW ONE IN FIVE ARE AFFECTED

World Innovation Summit For Health (WISH) Leads Way In Bridging Gap Between Knowledge And Treatment Of Diabetes

Doha, Qatar, 13 November 2014: The World Innovation Summit for Health (WISH), a global initiative of Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development (QF), is highlighting the risk that diabetes poses to the region’s health and lifestyle on World Diabetes Day.

As a disease that is particularly prevalent in the Gulf region, the incidence of diabetes is as high as 12-18 per cent in the Middle East, with Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Oman appearing in the top ten most affected countries, according to the International Diabetes Federation.

WISH wants to shine a light on this urgent and increasing health priority ahead of presenting exclusive insights at the second summit in February 2015. WISH is spearheaded by QF to inspire and diffuse 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 underscore Qatar’s pioneering role as an emerging center for healthcare innovation.

Professor Stephen Colagiuri, WISH’s Diabetes Forum Chair, will work with a leading team of experts from around the world to produce evidence-based research that can help guide policymakers and others responsible for the prevention and management of diabetes. Results, findings and recommendations from the Forum will be presented for discussion at the Summit.

Professor The Lord Darzi of Denham, Executive Chair of WISH and Director of the Institute of Global Health Innovation at Imperial College of London, said: “World Diabetes Day offers the chance to highlight to the countries of the Middle East that it is a looming global health crisis. The policy report that we will publish on diabetes in February will provide recommendations for policymakers to more effectively prevent diabetes in their countries, and to also ensure effective treatment for those with the illness. It is our hope that healthcare leaders from the region will adopt some of these recommendations for the benefit of their populations.”

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

ENDS

Notes to Editors:

For more information please contact:

Noha El Afify
WISH Communications Manager
nelafify@wish.org.qa
+974 7768 6624

About the World Innovation Summit for Health:

The World Innovation Summit for Health (WISH) is a global healthcare community dedicated to capturing and disseminating the best evidence-based ideas and practices. WISH is an initiative of Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development (QF) and is under the patronage of Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, its Chairperson.

The inaugural WISH Summit took place in Doha in 2013 and convened more than 1,000 global healthcare leaders. Through annual Summits and a range of ongoing initiatives, WISH is creating a global community of leading innovators in healthcare policy, research and industry.

Together, they are harnessing the power of innovation to overcome the world’s most urgent healthcare challenges and inspire other stakeholders to action.

Qatar Foundation – Unlocking Human Potential

Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development is a private, non-profit organisation that is supporting Qatar on its journey from a carbon economy to knowledge economy by unlocking human potential for the benefit of not only Qatar, but the world. Founded in 1995 by His Highness Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al Thani, Amir of Qatar, QF is chaired by Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser.

QF carries out its mission through three strategic pillars: education, science and research, and community development. QF’s education pillar brings world-class universities to Qatar to help create an education sector in which young people can develop the attitudes and skills required for a knowledge economy. Meanwhile, its science and research pillar builds Qatar’s innovation and technology capacity by developing and commercialising solutions through key sciences. Finally, its community development pillar helps foster a progressive society while also enhancing cultural life, protecting Qatar’s heritage and addressing immediate social needs in the community.

For a complete list of QF’s initiatives and projects, visit http://www.qf.org.qa

For more information about Qatar Foundation please contact our press office at: pressoffice@qf.org.qa