World Innovation Summit for Health supports first ever universal health coverage day

Doha, Qatar

The World Innovation Summit for Health (WISH), a global initiative of Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development (QF), is proud to commit its support for the first ever Universal Health Coverage (UHC) Day on 12 December 2014.

The global day of recognition is the first time the importance of UHC has been given a platform to galvanize support across the world. WISH is proud to stand alongside over 270 partner organizations from 64 countries, including World Health Organization, Oxfam and Save the Children.

WISH joins global partners to fight disparity in global healthcare to promote access for all

UHC is the basic concept that every person, everywhere, should have access to health care without suffering financial hardship. This essential human right is a cornerstone of sustainable development and global security. Yet currently, one billion people lack access to basic health care, and a further 100 million struggle financially to access it.

In response to this challenge, WISH has established a Forum on Universal Health Coverage, chaired by Sir David Nicholson KCE CBE, former Chief Executive of the National Health Service in England, which has grown to become one of the world's largest publicly funded health services since its launch in 1948.

Professor the Lord Darzi of Denham, Executive Chair of WISH, said: "It is unacceptable that over one billion people currently live without access to quality healthcare. This basic human right should not be dependent on where you were born or what you do for a living. To ensure real impact, it is vital that organizations across the globe work together to address this urgent health challenge. As part of WISH, our UHC Forum will look to deliver practical, evidence based methods for extending quality healthcare provision to the world's poorest and most vulnerable people."

WISH is in line with Qatar Foundation's mission of launching initiatives as part of a drive towards fundamental healthcare development and reform. 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 center for healthcare innovation. 

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

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 a 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, Emir 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 commercializing 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, please visit qf.org.qa. For more information about QF, please contact our press office [email protected].