WISH and WHO EMRO Explore New Avenues for Global Health Collaboration

DOHA, Qatar — Strengthening long-standing partnerships in global health and health education, WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean (EMRO), Dr. Balkhy, visited the Qatar Foundation on Thursday, March 14, 2025, to discuss advancing collaboration. She was welcomed by Dr. Slim Slama, CEO of WISH, and Stavros Yiannouka, CEO of WISE, who briefed her delegation on their respective missions, strategic priorities, and ongoing initiatives. 

Dr. Balkhy shared her vision for WHO’s Eastern Mediterranean Region and highlighted key flagship initiatives to address health challenges across the region. Given the strong history of collaboration between WISH and WHO EMRO, both sides agreed to deepen engagement through a dedicated technical working meeting to explore future joint initiatives.

At a global level, WHO HQ and WISH operate under a Memorandum of Understanding, guiding their collaboration on research, policy dialogues, and advocacy. At WISH 7 in November 2024, WHO had a strong presence, with Director-General Dr Tedros participating on centre stage, contributing to WISH-led reports, and hosting a well-visited exhibition display. 

“WHO EMRO and WISH share a common goal—bridging research, innovation, and policy to drive meaningful health impact. This visit reaffirms our commitment to working together to shape global and regional health agendas” said Dr. Slim Slama, CEO of WISH. 

With this renewed momentum, WISH and WHO EMRO will continue collaborating on evidence-based policymaking, research, and education initiatives, reinforcing #Qatar’s role as a hub for global health #dialogue. 

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