The workshop builds on the joint WHO-WISH report “In the Line of Fire” and a High‑Level Roundtable organised under the patronage of Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser and with the participation of WHO Director‑General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus at the WISH7 Summit in November 2024. It is part of a broader sequence of engagements that includes a session co‑hosted with the Central African Republic at the World Health Assembly in May 2025, a public event at the Qatar Pavilion during the Osaka Expo in June 2025, and a high‑level convening with IFRC and UNICEF at the United Nations General Assembly in September 2025.

During the closing session in Geneva, WISH underlined its long‑term commitment to this agenda and confirmed that protection of healthcare in conflict will be a flagship theme under the Global Health Diplomacy track at the next WISH Summit (WISH8), where outcomes and lessons from the workshop will be brought to ministers, diplomats and multilateral leaders.

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Our participation includes sessions on precision medicine and genomics, public policy transformation, and a contribution at the Doha Forum by Dr Slim Slama, CEO of WISH. These engagements reflect our commitment to connecting research with practice and advancing priorities that support healthier and more resilient communities.​

For event details and registration information, please refer to the information below:

2-4 December 2025: PMFG Summit

• Panel title: Precision Health in Practice: Global Lessons for Policy & Trust
• Date and time: 3 December 2025, 13:50 – 14:30
• Registration: Registration – PMFG 2025

6-7 December 2025: Doha Forum

• Panel title: Reclaiming Health System Ownership: Technical Lessons, Tools, and Partnership Pathways Amidst Funding Cuts
• Date and time: 6 December 2025, 14:30 – 1600
• Registration: by invitation

7-8 December 2025: AMEPPA Conference

• Panel title: Financing Equity in a Fragmented Global Health Landscape – Regional Implications
• Date and time: 7 December 2025, 11:00- 12:30
• Registration: MICEtribe

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At WHO HQ, Dr Khan led the development of key global normative guidance, including the first-ever WHO Global Hypertension Report, the WHO Guideline for the Pharmacological Treatment of Hypertension, and the first global framework for the management of acute coronary syndrome and stroke. Under her leadership, WHO’s hypertension control programs were implemented in over 30 countries, working in close partnership with national health authorities, professional associations, implementation partners, donors, and global health actors such as Resolve to Save Lives, the World Heart Federation and the World Stroke Organization.

Following her WHO tenure, she contributed to the Africa-Europe Foundation, facilitating high-level policy exchange on climate change, digital health, and multilateral affairs.

Her expertise spans health security, climate-resilient health systems, and cross-sectoral policy design. Known for her ability to bridge research and implementation, Dr Khan champions solutions that align scientific evidence, community priorities, and the strategic use of health diplomacy—a vision that supports WISH’s strategic mission of positioning health as a cornerstone of global diplomacy.

At WISH, Dr Khan will lead the organization’s research, content, and policy development agenda, focusing on translating evidence into actionable policies and advancing resilient, equitable health systems worldwide.

The post We are pleased to announce the appointment of Dr Taskeen Khan as the new Director of Research and Content at WISH – Qatar Foundation. appeared first on WISH.

The panel highlighted the devastating impact of violence on health systems and the need for coordinated international action. Panelists shared insights from the field and discussed strategies to protect health workers and facilities in conflict zones.

Dr. Slim Slama, CEO of WISH-Qatar Foundation, emphasized, “Protecting health in conflict is a shared responsibility. Through these platforms, we are uniting voices and driving global action.”

This event is part of WISH’s systematic efforts to raise awareness and build a coalition of organizations and experts committed to this cause. It follows WISH’s official side event at the 78th World Health Assembly in Geneva and the release of a joint WISH-WHO report on attacks on health.

For more information and to access the WISH-WHO report, please visit our website or contact our communications team.

The post WISH Brings Global Leaders Together at Osaka Expo to Tackle Attacks on Health in Armed Conflict appeared first on WISH.

Beyond the images of destruction and the statistics of trauma lies an underappreciated truth: war is a major risk factor for heart disease. The toll is physical, psychological, systemic. Conflict triggers a silent surge in hypertension, heart attacks, and strokes—especially among those who survive, displaced and disconnected from the care they once had.

Recognising this crisis, the 10th World Heart Summit, convened by the World Heart Federation in Geneva, is dedicating a special session titled “CVD in the Aftermath of War & Conflicts”, taking place on Sunday, 18 May 2025, from 11:15 to 12:00 CEST.

Dr. Slim Slama, CEO of the World Innovation Summit for Health (WISH), has been invited to deliver a 10-minute pacesetter lecture to open the session and shape the ensuing dialogue.

A seasoned global health practitioner, physician, and advocate for health equity, Dr. Slama has worked across conflict-affected regions where health systems are routinely fractured—and where the burden of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), including cardiovascular disease (CVD), is steadily rising in the shadows of crisis.

“In war, we account for bullets and blood—but we rarely account for broken hearts,” Dr. Slama reflects. “Not just the emotional trauma, but the literal explosion of cardiovascular disease driven by toxic stress, disrupted treatment, dislocation, and despair. If we’re serious about recovery, then heart health must be part of the peace agenda.”

A Global Platform with a Deep Legacy in Conflict and Health

Dr. Slama’s presence at the summit reinforces WISH’s enduring commitment to confronting the toughest realities in global health—not least, the deliberate attacks on health systems in conflict zones.

At the 7th edition of WISH in Doha (November 2024), WISH co-launched with WHO a landmark report on “Attacks on Health in Armed Conflict”, documenting not only the scale of violence but also the moral and legal failure of the international community to protect caregivers, facilities, and patients.

This work builds on the broader vision of Qatar Foundation, whose founder, Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, has long championed the cause of protecting both education and health in times of war. Her leadership, including advocacy through global platforms like “Education Above All,” has elevated this agenda from humanitarian plea to global responsibility.

WISH’s engagement in the upcoming session at the World Heart Summit is both a continuation and a call—to reframe cardiovascular care not as a peacetime luxury but as a wartime necessity.

“Rebuilding hospitals and training doctors is vital—but so is restoring the quiet continuity of chronic care,” said Dr. Slama. “If we ignore the cardiovascular crisis created by conflict, we leave people to survive war only to succumb to its long tail.”

As WISH continues to bring together health policymakers, humanitarian actors, and medical experts, this collaboration with the World Heart Federation reflects a shared urgency: to connect the dots between health security, peacebuilding, and chronic disease resilience.

Because healing after war isn’t just about reconstruction—it’s about reconnection. Especially to care. Especially to heart health.

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WISH’s presence at this prestigious summit underscores its relentless focus on non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and its leadership as the world’s largest global health convenor, bridging the global north and south. With cardiovascular diseases remaining the leading cause of death in Qatar and the region, WISH’s advocacy and research are more vital than ever.

Dr Khan remarked, “”This forum on women’s cardiovascular health ignites a vital truth: women are more than mothers—they are fighters, leaders, and healers. At WISH, we champion this life course vision: health equity that sees, hears, and heals all of who they are, by connecting science, policy and the lived experience.”

WISH’s participation at the World Heart Summit reinforces its commitment to advancing heart health and driving evidence-based policy for healthier societies worldwide.

#WISHQatar #WorldHeartSummit #CardiovascularHealth #NCDs #GlobalHealth #HealthEquity

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Qatar’s Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) will lead a sub-plenary session titled Towards Healthy Dry Cities: Insights and Strategies at the conference. The session brings together experts from MoPH, Qatar University, Earthna, and the World Health Organisation (WHO) to explore practical approaches for advancing health and well-being in arid urban environments.

To set the stage, the session will feature the short film Healthy Dry Cities, developed by WISH in 2020 and publicly available on the BMJ website. The film highlights Qatar’s early and ongoing leadership in health innovation for dry cities, an increasingly urgent issue as urbanisation and climate change intensify water scarcity challenges worldwide.

This moment is a powerful example of WISH’s unique approach: identifying critical health topics, curating meaningful conversations, and seeking innovative solutions that move from dialogue to action. The strong collaboration between WISH, MoPH, and global actors like the WHO is a testament to the impact of partnership in advancing health policy and practice.

WISH’s mission is to drive conversations that lead to measurable impact. Including the Healthy Dry Cities initiative at IUHPE 2025 demonstrates how these efforts inspire and inform global health agendas.

References

• Healthy Dry Cities Video
• BMJ Healthy Dry Cities Page
• Qatar Ministry of Public Health
• WHO

Tags: Healthy Dry Cities, WISH Impact, Qatar Ministry of Public Health, WHO, IUHPE 2025, Health Promotion, Arid Cities, Global Health Collaboration, Innovation

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Invited by Dr. Jack Lau, President of QSTP, WISH will lend its expertise to the committee, playing a pivotal role in selecting startups to join the QSTP community. WISH’s involvement builds on its legacy of championing health innovation, which has been a key theme throughout its summits and reports.

“Innovation is at the heart of WISH. As a member of this committee, we will not only evaluate promising startups, but also contribute to shaping the future of innovation in Qatar.” Eman Tag, Head of Innovation at WISH, emphasized the vital role of the QF ecosystem in fostering a culture of innovation: “The unique environment within Education City allows WISH to curate informed discussions on health innovation and identify groundbreaking solutions from around the world. We look forward to sharing our insights and contributing to the success of QSTP startups.”

WISH, known as the world’s leading global health gathering, will utilize its expansive network to elevate Qatar’s innovation landscape on the global stage. This collaboration with QSTP further strengthens WISH’s commitment to fostering a thriving innovation ecosystem within Qatar and beyond.

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WISH’s participation underscores its commitment to addressing the growing burden of NCDs, particularly in vulnerable populations and humanitarian settings. This engagement builds upon WISH’s prior work, which has highlighted the importance of integrating NCD prevention and management into emergency response efforts. WISH, as the world’s leading global health gathering, brings unparalleled expertise and influence to this critical dialogue.

“NCDs account for the majority of global deaths, and their impact is amplified in humanitarian settings where health systems are already strained,” said Dr. Slim Slama. “It is imperative that we prioritize NCD care as a core component of integrated humanitarian health responses. This Boot Camp is a vital step towards building political will, mobilizing collective action, and ensuring that no one is left behind.”

This high-level panel discussion will set the strategic tone for the Boot Camp, bringing together diverse leadership perspectives to advance the NCD agenda in humanitarian settings. Dr. Slama’s participation in this event is a precursor to closer collaboration between WISH and IFRC and partners, working towards a future where NCDs are no longer a silent crisis in humanitarian response.

“This collaboration with IFRC and its partners is a significant opportunity to drive meaningful change,” added Dr. Slama. “By working together, we can develop and implement innovative solutions that improve the lives of people living with NCDs in the most challenging circumstances.”

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WISH’s involvement underscores the organization’s deep commitment to addressing the intersection of health and humanitarian crises, particularly in regions like the Eastern Mediterranean. This participation builds upon WISH’s past summits and reports, which have highlighted the critical importance of integrating climate resilience into healthcare systems. As the world’s leading global health gathering, WISH brings invaluable expertise and a far-reaching network to this crucial initiative.

“Climate change is not just an environmental issue; it’s a profound threat to human health, particularly for those already living in vulnerable circumstances,” said Dr. Slim Slama. “WISH is committed to working with this esteemed consortium to develop impactful strategies that protect the health and well-being of women and children in conflict and humanitarian settings. Our past convenings have shown the power of collective action, and we’re eager to contribute our expertise to this vital effort.”

The invitation-only meeting brings together an advisory panel of global experts to chart a multi-year course of action. Key discussions will focus on identifying effective mitigation and adaptation strategies, strengthening healthcare systems, and promoting resilience within communities facing the dual burdens of climate change and conflict.

“The challenges of climate change and humanitarian crises demand innovative solutions and strong partnerships,” added Dr. Slama. “WISH is proud to collaborate with the Aga Khan Development Network, IDRC, and the Carter Center to advance this critical work and build a healthier, more resilient future for all.”

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