Doha
30 November 2016

The importance of collaborating to find cross-border solutions to global healthcare issues took centre stage at the second day of the World Innovation Summit for Health (WISH) today at the Qatar National Convention Centre (QNCC).

Renowned economist Larry Summers, former US Secretary of the Treasury, used his keynote address to call for an increase in funding to tackle transnational healthcare challenges, such as developing medicines and vaccines for diseases of poverty, increasing pandemic preparedness, and rethinking priorities in healthcare policy-making. Currently, he said, only 20 percent of donor support for health goes toward such global efforts.

“If a country invests in better health clinics, its citizens capture all the benefits of the investment. If it invests in pandemic preparation or vaccine research or development of new service delivery techniques, the benefits flow around the world. So, it stands to reason that without global cooperation, the world will underinvest in global public goods and global functions,” he said.

Summers argued that boosting donor support for global healthcare efforts to 50 percent by 2030 could save millions from death by pandemic, smoking-related illnesses, obesity and other diseases. At the same time, he said, developing economies will be better able to address their domestic healthcare needs as their individual economies grow.

Summers concluded: “This is a conscious choice. There’s the moral point that I feel deeply as an economist, precisely because health is so important that it’s essential rigor be brought to investment choices. There’s a practical point as well. I found that as Treasury Secretary I had far more time for those who did not just seek more resources for new priorities but were willing to contemplate ways of making do with less over time for existing priorities, than for those who just wanted more. And it’s essential those fighting for global investment be heard. Tens of millions of lives are at stake.”

The afternoon’s keynote speaker, Mustafa Suleyman, co-founder of DeepMind, reminded delegates that a vast array of technological advancements exist to enhance healthcare, saying: “We looked at many different application areas, but none seemed to struggle more with technology than healthcare, none seemed to have a margin of improvement that was as striking as the opportunities that we see in healthcare. I think digitization is absolutely critical when it comes to delivering safe and high-quality care.”

The 2016 WISH event was the largest since the initiative was launched in 2013, with more than 1,400 delegates from more than 100 countries attending. Among those in attendance were nearly 40 ministry-level representatives.

Professor Lord Ara Darzi, Executive Chair of WISH said “This has been a fantastic Summit and the best WISH yet. We've had the world's top experts and leading edge innovators sharing their solutions to the most stubborn health problems. I'm delighted that the Summit has been such a success. Our global community of innovators leave Doha informed, inspired and energized by this landmark Summit. We return to more than 100 countries with new friendships and connections that will endure.”

A pair of policy briefings kicked off the day, with healthcare providers and policymakers discussing Dementia and Delivering Affordable Cancer Care. In the former, the speakers discussed a condition that has been increasing with alarming speed around the world.

Shekhar Saxena, Director of the World Health Organization’s Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse, said: "Dementia is a silent epidemic. More cases of dementia are recorded every day, month and year. Unfortunately, we are still not paying as much attention to this topic as we should be. The global population is ageing, we are living longer and this is one of the leading causes of dementia. The figures for global incidence and prevalence of dementia are very clear, they are there for everyone to see. One dementia case is recorded every 4 seconds, and these numbers keep increasing, with 9.9 million new cases recorded worldwide each year.”

Later, conversation centred around how to form cancer care policies that are economically efficient and address patients’ true needs, including palliative care and medication. “Since 1990, the price of cancer medication has increased 10-12 percent per annum. Cancer medicines are some of the most expensive resources on the planet, and we’re in desperate need for effective cancer drugs that governments can afford,” said panellist Richard Sullivan, Director of the Institute of Cancer Policy at King’s College London.

Egbert Schillings, Chief Executive Officer of WISH, said: “The story of WISH 2016 is not told in the number of participants or even in the pages of research, it is told in the moments of impact that we created because we were in one room together. Projects coming out of this year’s Summit will change people’s lives here and everywhere for the better.”

Doha
30 November 2016

Qatar Development Bank (QDB) in collaboration with Qatar Chamber of Commerce, honoured 50 top local small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) at the awarding ceremony of SME Excellence List 2016. The initiative was designed to provide a valuable platform for exceptional local SMEs, as it showcased their achievements in large presence of ministers, heads of diplomatic missions and distinguished private and public sector leaders at the ceremony.

Abdulaziz bin Nasser Al-Khalifa, Chief Executive Officer of QDB said in his address on the occasion "We are delighted to stand before you today with yet another proactive initiative: SME Excellence List 2016. QDB has shortlisted 50 outstanding performers from almost 800 SMEs. A testament of their success is that the total income achieved by these 50 SMEs amounts to nearly 1 billion Qatari riyals.”

He said “It is our firm belief that these companies have taken tremendous strides to unlock their potentials. These 50 SMEs have demonstrated optimum operational performance and efficiency of production by adopting the highest quality of standards and following best international practices.'

'In the days to come, we urge them to continue focusing on development and innovation in all aspects of their work, so that they may compete locally, regionally and globally with the very best in their respective industries, as envisioned in Qatar National Vision 2030.'

Abdulaziz bin Nasser al-Khalifa stress on all SMEs operating in the country and registered in Qatar to seize the opportunity and join our SME rating initiative. He said that biennial SME Excellence List ranking program sheds light on the growing maturity within the private sector and the ability of the budding SME sector to generate large incomes.

'A key objective of the ranking program is to foster a culture of transparency and competition in the economic system by ranking top SME performers on a clearly established set of criteria and providing a road map to success for other SMEs to follow.' He outlined QDB’s plans to provide detailed reports over the course of the coming weeks, which will clearly illustrate both the key performance areas of the winners of the SME Excellence List 2016 awards, as well as the weaknesses that need to be addressed, in order to successfully compete for the next instalment of the initiative.

The evaluation criteria, adopted by QDB, for determining the 50 top finalists for the SME Excellence List 2016 included financial performance, rates of staff development and retention, innovation and use of technology, integrity and transparency, application of quality standards and certifications and commitment to environmental protection in terms of waste management and compliance with environmental legislation.

Notably, the SME Excellence Ranking Program contributes to the holistic development of the SME ecosystem by rewarding the local business community in Qatar for adopting best private sector practices and showing outstanding financial results. SME Ranking Program serves as a platform for the exchange of ideas on best practices in the SME sector, providing a learning opportunity for all attendees.

Doha
29 Nov 2016

Qatar Museums in collaboration with the Musée national Picasso and the Fondation Giacometti, will present the first exhibition dedicated to the work of two of the most important artists of the twentieth century, Pablo Picasso (1881-1973) and Alberto Giacometti (1901-1966), at the Fire Station - Artist in Residence in Doha.. The exhibition, which is the first to show these artists in the Middle East, will run from 23 February to 21 May 2017.

This major exhibition, curated by Catherine Grenier, Director of the Fondation Giacometti, with Associate Curators, Serena Bucalo-Mussely and Virginie Perdrisot, brings together more than 120 works by these two artists drawn from the collections of the Musée national Picasso and the Fondation Giacometti in Paris, as well as exceptional loans from French and other international collections, covering paintings, sculptures, sketches, photographs and interviews with the artists.

The exhibition reflects two years of research undertaken by the Foundation Giacometti and the Musée National Picasso, which reveals for the first time the previously unknown relationship between these two artists, who, despite an age gap of twenty years, shared many moments, both personal and professional.

The exhibition is organised in six sections, evoking different aspects of each artist’s production, including the development of their work as young artists through to their modernist creations, showing the correspondences between their works, the influence of the surrealist movement, and the return to realism during the post-war period.

The exhibition includes key works by each artist, such as: Self Portrait (1901), Woman Throwing a Stone (1931) and The She Goat (1950) by Picasso and Flower in Danger (1932), Tall Woman (1960), and Walking Man (1960) by Giacometti, presented alongside rare and fragile casts, some newly discovered drawings and photographic archives as well as some replicas of Giacometti’s works for the visually impaired visitors.

The exhibition will be accompanied by a series of lectures and an extensive education programme, as well as a self-guided handbook for the visitors.

A richly illustrated catalogue published as co-edition with Flammarion will accompany the exhibition, featuring new essays by art historians and the curators of the exhibition.

Doha
29 November 2016 (QNA)

Fourth Ajyal Youth Film Festival, presented by the Doha Film Institute kicks off on Wednesday with the opening night red carpet of the inspiring Kazakh film, The Eagle Huntress (Mongolia, UK, USA/ 2016), a heartwarming celebration of the passion of a determined young woman, the special bond she shares with her father, and of the ability of the human spirit to rise to a challenge.

Otto Bell, director of The Eagle Huntress and actress Aisholpan Nurgaiv will attend the opening ceremony, which will also host the Ajyal Jurors, over 550 young people from across the world, who evaluate the films in competition at Ajyal in three categories – Mohaq, Hilal and Bader. This year, Ajyal highlights the theme of positive social change with 70 thought-provoking films that will inspire the youth and stimulate discussions about real and relevant issues that affect them globally. The motivational line-up includes 24 features and 46 short narratives/documentaries, from 33 countries. There will be 42 public screenings, 18 jury screenings, interactive panels and master-classes, red carpets, exhibitions and family activities.

The themes of the films at Ajyal range from women empowerment to the global displacement crisis, the loss of loved ones, financial dependence, separation and every day struggles, presented with an underlying spirit of optimism and hope that will warm the hearts of the viewers. During the six-day event, Ajyal Youth Film Festival will also will introduce three engaging sessions of insightful discussions under ‘Ajyal Talks’, that provide an inspiring interaction with people who have a positive influence on youth, and highlight the issues affecting the youth of the region.

A thought-provoking conversation series with regional experts on global issues and trends, Ajyal Talks 2016 will be headlined by three eminent social influencers: Omar Hussein, who works with Syrian refugees through the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) as well as with AJ+, Al Jazeera’s online news and current affairs channel; Mohammed Al Hajji, a doctoral student and teaching assistant in the social and behavioural sciences at Temple University in Philadelphia; and Khaled Khalifa, UNHCR Regional Representative to the States of the Gulf Co-Operation Council.

All Ajyal Talks are open for free to the public, and are aimed at promoting intercultural dialogue to foster original thinking and positive action.

Fatma Al Remaihi, Festival Director and CEO of Doha Film Institute, said: "Through Ajyal Talks, we aim to engage the youth meaningfully, promote debate and dialogue on global and regional issues, and inspire critical thinking among them. With topics ranging from the refugee crisis to digital media and youth empowerment, we are confident that these interactive discussions will have a positive impact on the minds of our youth."

Doha
29 November 2016

Education City recently played host to the National Reading Campaign’s ‘Characters’ Village’, with over 12,500 visitors enjoying a range of ‘edutainment’ activities inspired by the campaign’s six iconic storybook characters.

For five days, Qatar Foundation’s Ceremonial Court and Green Spine were transformed into mini worlds of fantasy and fun, with separate character zones built around Little Red Riding Hood, Pinocchio, Alice in Wonderland, Joha, Little Lulu, and Sinbad. The event forms part of a nationwide collaborative effort to foster a book-loving culture in Qatar.

Khalifa E. Al Kubaisi, Head of Press Office, Qatar Foundation, said: “This weekend’s ‘Characters’ Village’ has proven invaluable in reinforcing the National Reading Campaign’s primary objective, to cultivate a book-loving culture in Qatar. We want to inspire children to become excited about reading, as we firmly believe it’s fundamental to most cognitive learning processes.”

“We created separate zones for each of the campaign’s six characters. Utilising a ‘learning through play ’ approach, the event was specifically designed to engage the imaginations of local children by strengthening the message that reading can be fun, exciting and informative, and not only academic,” Khalifa told.

The National Reading Campaign will also hold a booth at the Doha Film Institute’s (DFI) upcoming Ajyal Youth Film Festival taking place from 1 - 3 December at Katara Cultural Village. Children will be able to enjoy a number of exciting activities, such as themed storytelling sessions, interactive games like oversized jigsaws and Scrabble, and book hangouts.

Additionally, the National Reading Campaign’s six mascots will join in the Qatar National Day celebrations this year, at QF’s Darb El-Saai festivities from 8 December – 20 December.

‘Characters’ Village’ is part of QF’s popular National Reading Campaign. Championed by Sheikha Hind bint Hamad Al Thani, Vice Chairperson and CEO of Qatar Foundation, the campaign is committed to engaging the community to inspire a new generation of book lovers.

For more information, please visit the National Reading Campaign website: www.powerofreading.qa

Doha
29 Nov 2016

The third World Innovation Summit for Health (WISH) kicked off today presided by Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, Chairperson of Qatar Foundation (QF). Princess Lalla Salma, chairperson of Lalla Salma Foundation for Cancer Prevention and Treatment, Morrocco; and Princess Ghida bint Talal, chairperson of the board of trustees of the King Hussein Cancer Foundation (KHCF), Jordan were also present along with over 1,400 participants, including experts, policy makers and academics from over 100 countries. The conference lasts for two days at the Qatar National Center Doha.

In her opening remarks, Sheikha Moza bint Nasser acknowledged the new and diverse challenges facing the global healthcare community and the populations they serve, and expressed hope that the Summit would enable valuable collaboration.

She said: “All of our countries have a healthcare system, but none of them are perfect. Each country faces its own healthcare challenges. I hope that the participants in this year’s Summit will benefit from the research produced by WISH to improve their own health systems, and I hope that they will also use WISH as their platform for observing and monitoring policy reform in their own countries.”

Sheikha highlighted Qatar’s groundbreaking work in genomics and personalised medicine. Qatar Genome Programme, which was launched at the inaugural WISH in 2011, completed the sequencing of 3,000 Qatari genomes, a milestone that she noted will bring significant benefits to the local population.

“The ultimate aim of the Qatar Genome Programme is for it to bring tremendous benefit to patients. Working with partners, we are seeking to find ways to develop systems that will enable citizens’ genome data to be accessible to all health care centres, hospitals and clinics in order to provide efficient and customised treatment, while also guaranteeing the protection and confidentiality of patients’ health information,” Chairperson Qatar Foundation said.

The first day of the Summit featured policy briefings on universal health coverage and learning from international collaboration particularly on patient safety, as well as panel discussions on autism, health professional education, precision medicine, accountable care, behavioral insights, and genomics in the Gulf region and Islamic ethics.

Professor Lord Ara Darzi, Executive Chair of WISH, said: “WISH is a unique platform that brings together ministers, industry leaders, policy makers and academics to share our ideas, celebrate our successes and confront the common difficulties we face. WISH brings the world to Qatar and Qatar to the world. At WISH, it's real change that matters. Here, today, we have a global network of health reformers with a shared ambition: to make our health systems more responsive, with better quality and better value for money.”

Egbert Schillings, CEO of WISH, said: “WISH, now only in its third year, has firmly established itself as an indispensable part of the global healthcare leadership agenda. The leaders we convened are in Doha to engage with a unique body of knowledge, distinctive in both scope and depth. Today, we saw that the world will always come together to advance the cause of human health, as long as leaders are equipped with the ideas to do so and a platform that unites them. That is the essence of WISH and we are looking forward to the next chapter with even greater energy and commitment to improving the health of populations everywhere.”

In keeping with WISH’s goal of creating a global healthcare community, keynote speaker Dame Sally Davies, chief Medical Officer for England and a member of the World Health Organization’s executive board, urged delegates to work together to fight drug-resistant infectious diseases, which she said results in 700,000 deaths worldwide each year.

Dame Davies said: “These diseases are fuelled by the lack of a balance in antibiotics consumption that is fast becoming a major health disaster in the 21st century. It is imperative for us to move beyond the planning phase and take tangible actions to tackle this global epidemic. Continued awareness and education, ways to contain infections, optimised use of antibacterial drugs, innovation, and developing favourable market conditions are a few of the steps global policy makers have been agreeing to undertake in this process. I call on all the ministers, policy-makers and health professionals to work together towards innovating for a brighter future. We can change the world when we want to and when we choose to change.”

In the evening keynote talk, Dr Julio Frenk, President of the University of Miami and former Minister of Health for Mexico, discussed the challenges and opportunities created by the rapid proliferation of healthcare education.

“There has been an explosion in education and reform for universal healthcare coverage, which creates a unique set of opportunities for us to exploit. Transformative learning now means that healthcare professionals need to master the content and the context of the larger healthcare landscape in which they operate,” said Dr Frenk.

Several of the panels addressed healthcare concerns in Qatar, including autism, which came to the forefront locally in 2015 with the creation of a National Working Autism Group and the development of a National Autism plan.

Speaking about Qatar’s national strategy around autism, Muhammad Waqar Azeem, Chair of Department of Psychiatry at Sidra Research and Medical Centre, said: “The strategy is based on six pillars: awareness, timely screening, timely diagnosis, evidence-based interventions, the role of schools in the child's life and the transition into adulthood. These pillars are very important, and we are grateful to Dr Hanan Al Kuwari, Minister of Public Health, who is the force behind this strategy. Secondly, WISH, having an autism forum that unites all national stakeholders, is great success in itself.”

Above in Picture, Sheikha Moza bint Nasser (Left) is seen along with Lalla Salma (Red Dress), wife of King Mohammed VI of Morocco and Dr Hanan Al Kuwari, Minister of Public Health, Qatar

Doha, November 27 (QNA)

Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani met at the Emiri Diwan on Sunday with outgoing South Africa's Ambassador to Qatar, Saad Cachalia, who called on Emir of State of Qatar to greet him on the occasion of the end of his tenure in Qatar.

Emir of Qatar wished the outgoing Ambassador success in his future assignments and further strength in bilateral relations between the two countries.

Ambassador Sa'ad Cachalia expressed his gratitude and paid thanks to the Emir and the officials in Qatar for the co-operation he received during his tenure.

28 November 2016
Doha, Qatar

14 competitors, largest number till 2016 4th Annual competition “Qatar’s Strongest Man” will be displaying their strength on Friday 2nd of December 2016. The competition to be held in Aspire Zone is organised by Aspire Sports Academy, a unique and the only of its kind in Middle East.

Abdullah Al Khater, Events Manager, Aspire Zone Foundation said : “Our goal at Aspire Zone Foundation is to continually improve the quality and variety of events we offer to the community. The growing popularity of Qatar’s Strongest Man competition has generated a lot of interest from participants looking for a chance to show off their skills and strength. We are excited to see these ranks grow.”

The surge in popularity has enabled Aspire Zone Foundation to create two divisions within the tournament: one for Qataris and one for expats and GCC visitors who wish to partake in this competition and showcase their strength and endurance.

In preparation for the fourth edition of the competition, Aspire Zone Foundation will hold a technical meeting on Tuesday, November 28th to brief participants on the rules and regulations of the competition and explain the point-system ranking.

Qatar’s Strongest Man enables participants to come face-to-face in a number of challenges, including truck pulling, deadlifting, lifting sand bags, flipping giant tyres, heavy weight and car lifting. Winners are decided based on a points-system, with points awarded based on the speed and weight with which participants complete each challenge.

The 14 participants qualified to compete this year were chosen from 131 entrants after successfully completing a series of rigorous physical and health tests that assessed their fitness levels. The fastest participants to complete 200-kg-weight lifts and a 20-metre walk while carrying 120 kg weights in each arm qualified to the final round. This year’s competition also welcomes back defending champion Fahad Al-Haddad (Qatar) and the 2014 winner Christopher Oketch (Kenya).

Second-time participant from Kenya, Ishak Cibola, said: “I have been impressed with the level of competition this year, which has become significantly more challenging. I have even switched up my training routine to stay ahead of my fellow participants, training 5 days a week and focusing on deadlifts to improve my strength. It’s impressive to see what Aspire Zone have done to promote healthy lifestyles through community participation in exciting events like Qatar’s Strongest Man.”

Members of the community are welcome to visit and cheer for their favourite competitor on Friday, December 02nd at designated spectator areas in Aspire Park opposite the outdoor pitches from 3:00 – 8:30 pm.

Aspire Zone has also set up corresponding spectator events to make the day fun and entertaining for the entire family, such as You.fo training and performances, kids’ activities and food stalls.

Qatar’s Strongest Man competition is a part of a year-round series of events, hosted by Aspire Zone Foundation, designed to promote sports activities and encourage healthy lifestyles among community members within competitive and professional settings. The tournament follows the recently concluded Aspire International 6.50 Race, the Aspire Splash and Dash, the Aquathon Series and the currently ongoing Aspire Banks Tournament.

Doha
28 November 2016

In advance of the World Innovation Summit for Health (WISH), leaders of the initiative emphasised the importance of coming together as a community to help solve to the world’s most urgent global health challenges.

The 2016 Summit opening ceremony on Tuesday at the Qatar National Convention Centre (QNCC) will be presided by Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, Chairperson of Qatar Foundation (QF). Summit will be attended by 2,400 delegates from 100 countries including 40 minister level representation.

Leading healthcare experts met in Doha today where they discussed WISH’s dedication to capturing and disseminating the best evidence-based ideas in Qatar, throughout the region and around the world. The third WISH Summit will unveil new research in several key areas, including policy briefings on patient safety, dementia, affordable cancer care and learning from internal collaboration.

Prof. Lord Ara Darzi, Executive Chair of WISH addressing pre-event press conference, said: “Around the world our health systems face enormous challenges. Never has the need for innovation been greater nor opportunity to work together larger. The World Innovation Summit for Health brings the world to Qatar and Qatar to the world - as a convenor, innovator and leader in health.

More than a thousand of the world's top experts are gathering here in Doha for what promises to be an important and historic meeting. I'm looking forward to the summit opening tomorrow morning and welcoming our guests from across the globe.”

In addition to the policy briefings, WISH Research Forums will share their reports on Accountable Care, Autism, Behavioural Insights, Cardiovascular Disease, Genomics in the Gulf Region and Islamic Ethics, Healthy Populations, Investing in Health, and Precision Medicine.

Dr Mariam Abdulmalik, Managing Director of the Primary Health Care Corporation, said: “WISH has been a key component in the continued development of healthcare in Qatar, a successful worldwide global platform allowing healthcare experts to share knowledge, which is essential in our efforts to integrate healthcare in an effective manner locally.'

'We have seen examples of this innovation in healthcare in the SMART Clinic launched in Al Wakra Health Center, which draws attention to a number of ‘best practice’ approaches used as a guideline for successful integrated care programmes. We have also witnessed the continued improvement of a comprehensive healthcare cycle in Qatar, the introduction of new programmes and healthcare models where the key goal is to ensure that the patient remains at the heart of all reflection, presenting them with simple access to better quality healthcare services.”

WISH, an initiative of Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development (QF), was launched in 2013 with the goal of creating a community where the world’s leading innovators, researchers and policymakers could share their ideas and work together to implement best practices for the benefit of local and global populations. In the years since, WISH has proven itself to be a platform for action around the world.

In 2016, WISH partnered with the Carter Center to train a cohort of journalists through the Rosalynn Carter Fellowships for Mental Health Journalism, which supports accurate reporting on mental health issues. In September, four local journalists received training at the centre.

In June 2016, WISH participated at the Global Health Policy Forum hosted by Health Affairs, the world’s leading health policy journal, in Washington, DC. Since 2014, Health Affairs has published 20 peer-reviewed articles based on WISH Forum reports.

Buthaina Al Nuaimi, President of Pre-University Education, QF in his address, said: “Since its inception in 2013, WISH has had a direct impact in creating tangible solutions in healthcare advocacy, policy, research, and delivery, providing recommendations and support in identifying solutions to pressing local and global healthcare challenges. WISH is an integral part of the dynamic research and innovation environment supported by Qatar Foundation, and, as one of QF’s primary healthcare initiatives, it is committed to helping position Qatar as a leading centre of excellence and innovation for healthcare locally and globally.”

Each year, WISH highlights innovations in healthcare through its Young Innovators Competition and Young Innovators and Young Leaders programmes, which serve as platforms to showcase tomorrow’s most promising healthcare leaders. Their innovations include devices, applications, innovative delivery models and design-based solutions that improve quality of care and patient experience, while also reducing the cost of care. The WISH 2016 Innovation Showcases provide a chance for entrepreneurs to exhibit their healthcare innovations and enables delegates to engage with ideas that are changing healthcare from the ground up.
“WISH has brought together policymakers and healthcare leaders from around the world facing similar problems in healthcare and health. One critical shared issue is how to use payments and other government policies to support innovative ways to deliver care that improves health while avoiding unnecessary costs – the aim of WISH’s accountable care work. WISH has enabled many countries to share their experiences and learn how to succeed in such models, ranging from the United States to the United Kingdom, India, and local applications in Qatar,” said Dr Mark McClellan, Director of the Robert J Margolis Center for Health Policy and the Margolis Professor of Business, Medicine and Health Policy at Duke University, and Chair of the WISH Accountable Care Forum 2013 and 2016.
Egbert Schillings, CEO of WISH, said: “Three years ago, WISH was founded to be an indispensable part of the global health policy leadership agenda, while directly serving Qatar's healthcare system. With 109 countries represented at the summit - the majority by ministerial delegations - and measurable impact across the local health policy and delivery landscape, WISH has delivered on its mission. In depth of research and scope of impact, it has no equal anywhere in the world.”

In addition to the annual summit, WISH has several ongoing projects, including Global Diffusion of Healthcare Innovation (GDHI), an assessment of how healthcare systems around the world adopt new innovations and spread them successfully, with the aim of inspiring other countries to adopt the best methods and ideas. It also examines the cultural behaviours that influence the spread of new ideas, such as the way each country engages with healthcare professionals, patients and the wider public, and highlights particular areas where countries are creating these conditions.

Also, WISH’s Leading Health Systems Network (LHSN) is a collaborative network of healthcare leaders and organisations dedicated to improving healthcare delivery by effectively and efficiently using available resources. LHSN is an initiative of WISH in partnership with Imperial College in London. Its network brings together the best ideas, models of care and strategies to drive sustained improvement, and connects healthcare leaders to a like-minded community of peers that share the same goals and challenges.

Doha
27 November, 2016

Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) awarded top honors to 29 winning projects at the seventh annual Stars of Excellence staff award ceremony. The event held at the St Regis Hotel and was attended by more than 500 members of staff.

This year, the winning projects were selected from a total of 303 submissions, one of the highest number of submissions received in recent years. Each year, winners are chosen based on their performance against key criteria such as the application of international best practice, evidence of direct improvements resulting from the project, and how the project has impacted patient care and the overall patient experience.

Dr. Hanan Mohamed Al Kuwari, PhD, the Minister of Public Health said the awards ceremony is an important platform to recognize and reward the hard work of all HMC staff.

“Every year the quality of submissions we receive speaks volumes about the excellent work being done at HMC,” Health Minister said “It is important to acknowledge and reward teamwork in organizations as successful partnerships are crucial to an organization’s success. I am always impressed by the tireless commitment shown by HMC teams towards raising the standards of healthcare in Qatar.

“So many of the projects showcased at these awards are founded on principles that can be applied in many other areas of our diverse organization. This sharing of knowledge is one of the best and also one of the most exciting outcomes from the Stars of Excellence program – being able to share our knowledge and experiences with our colleagues,” Her Excellency said.

“I am consistently impressed by the commitment shown by the staff in raising the standards of healthcare in Qatar so that our population receives the safest, most effective and most compassionate care,” she added.

Nasser Al Naimi, Deputy Chief Quality Officer for HMC and Director of the Center for Patient Experience and Staff Engagement said that all the submissions were categorized within HMC’s three pillars of Health, Education and Research and focused on areas including quality, safety, innovations and improving patient experience.

“The quality of submissions was extremely high and came from all areas of the organization. This was reflected by the equally excellent winning projects. The work demonstrates the exemplary level of clinical care that is delivered at HMC for the benefit of our patients. An example of such work is the prestigious Managing Director’s Award which this year was given to HMC’s Clinical Information System (CIS) for their collaborative achievement in clinical transformation,” Al Naimi said.

The objective of the CIS program was to develop a single patient electronic record to replace multiple paper records with the aim of reducing medical errors, enhancing confidentiality and increasing accountability.

The CIS program touches every part of the organization – not just internal support systems but also patient facing engagement opportunities. It has developed over the past few years into one of the largest programs that has embraced practically each and every member of staff and has had an overarching and lasting impact on the delivery of patient care.

“A major factor contributing to the success of this program was the extensive clinical engagement in shaping the design and delivery of the clinical information system and this was predicated on effective teamwork and a supportive leadership,” added Al Naimi.