Newsletter 10/2023: Welcome to Berlin for WHS 2023!

Dear friends,

The World Health Summit under the theme "A Defining Year for Global Health Action" is only a few days away and I look forward to jointly push important global health discussions and initiatives with you in Berlin.

We are faced with brutal terrorism and war. As the global health community worldwide, we know that there is only one health on earth and humanity will only stand the test of these decades if we overcome the divisions within and between nations. I call on you all to generate an example how cooperation between people from all over the world and all sectors of society is possible and has the strength to safeguard a livable future for everyone!  

It is a defining year for global health action - this year’s motto emphasizes the importance of a strong international collaboration and of building on the discussions during the year, such as the UN high-level meetings, whose topics - tuberculosis, pandemic preparedness and response, and universal health coverage – are reflected at the WHS 2023. To foster ongoing initiatives, we will also be hosting several special events and launches – get more info below.

The WHS 2023 will feature prominent names in global health from all sectors and all regions of the world. We are expecting far more than 300 speakers and several thousand participants in Berlin and online. Among them around 20 ministers from across the globe and 35 speakers from WHO. 

With its 60 sessions and numerous side events, the World Health Summit facilitates cross-sectoral solutions towards health for all. Given the augmenting threat of climate change and the growing number of violent conflicts, we must build a team earth: Let’s find ways towards true and fair multilateral cooperation.

Dear friends, use this World Health Summit for involving discussions, innovative solutions, and forging new partnerships.

See you all at the World Health Summit 2023!

Get ready for WHS 2023 from October 15-17 and look forward to the most pressing global health topics, amazing speakers, and inspiring discussions.
 

How to Participate

Registration for on-site participation is almost closed - if you still want to join us in Berlin, we reserved a few last minute spots for you.

The entire program will also be available live online for free for people around the world who may not be able to travel to Berlin. Livestream links for each session are available in the online program and during WHS 2023 directly on the top of our landing page. All session will be recorded and made available on our YouTube channel. 
 

Speakers 

We look forward to welcoming more than 300 high-level speakers to the World Health Summit 2023. Among them will be around 20 ministers from across the world. If you count the speaker photos below you will notice an almost even gender balance. This is no coincidence: There will be more female speakers than male speakers at this year's World Health Summit. 

More speakers

Watch the WHS 2023 Speaker Teaser here.

Program

The WHS 2023 program book has arrived: 176 pages packed with all info on sessions, speakers, participation, background on the World Health Summit 2023. In a few days the print edition will be available on the tables on-site at WHS 2023. Check out the digital version here.

The online program provides up-to-date und comprehensive information on each of the 60 sessions: Hosts, chairs, speakers, topic descriptions, and the links for digital participation. 

WHS 2023 central topics will reflect the most pressing issues, including pandemic prevention, Universal Health Coverage, sustainable health for people and planet, G7/G20 measures to enhance global health equity and security, digital technologies for global health, 75 years of WHO, and the fight against tuberculosis.
 

Don't miss these central events ath the WHS 2023:

Opening Ceremony
The official opening ceremony will take place on Sunday, October 15 at 6:00 PM CEST. The livestream will be available on www.worldhealthsummit.org.

More on the opening ceremony

World Health Summit Night
- Handover of the annual International World Health Summit presidency from George Washington University, USA to Monash University, Australiaand introduction of the WHS Regional Meeting in Melbourne, Australia in April 2024
- Award Ceremony for Seth Berkley, global advocate of the power of vaccines and former CEO of Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, for his Lifetime Achievement in global health

Outlook Session
Join the last session of the WHS 2023 that will provide conclusions from the three days of program and outlooks for the future of global health.

More on the outlook session

Please also note these special events in the WHS 2023 program:

- Pledging Event by Global Financing Facility (GFF)
- Launch of the Equity 2030 Alliance 
- Launch of the Community Health Delivery Partnership

More info on side events

Social Media 

Follow and share #WHS2023 and make sure to use our hashtag and handles.
Twitter: @WorldHealthSmt
LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram: @worldhealthsummit

If you wish to receive material to promote your sessions and/or speakers - just email us and we'll happily provide a communications package.

Press and Media

The entire World Health Summit 2023 is open to the press. Digital participation is possible without prior accreditation. Video and audio material can be used upon request. Source: World Health Summit.

Please visit our Press Kit for comprehensive information, photos, and downloads.
Find all press releases here.
For media inquiries please contact us.

World Health Summit president Axel R. Pries tells us what he expects from the World Health Summit 2023.

Read the answers

Health: A Political Choice - From Fragmentation to Integration 

"We must stand together in unprecedented ways to safeguard life on Earth in the way we know it and want to preserve it for future generations," is the World Health Summit president's call in the new publication by the Global Governance Project: "Health: A Political Choice: From Fragmentation to Integration". He is one of the high-level contributors alongside WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Stella Kyriakides, EU Commissioner for Health and Food Safety, Save the Children CEO Inger Ashing, and others. We are honored to be welcoming several of them to the World Health Summit 2023. 

Read the full publication

Read the article by Axel R. Pries

3 ½ Questions with Carsten Schicker in ZEIT Wissen³

What is something you need in your job today that you didn’t learn during your studies? Find out the World Health Summit Managing Director Carsten Schicker’s answer in the science newsletter by DIE ZEIT.

Read 3 ½ questions in Wissen³ (German only)

Support for WHO for Health Emergencies: Top Donor Germany Signs Major Contribution 

Germany as one of WHO's top donors has extended its committment to the international organization: Germany will contribute a further €40 million to WHO’s work in health emergencies, and will continue to host the Berlin-based WHO Hub for Pandemic and Epidemic Intelligence. As mentioned in the article, the German government and WHO are long-standing central partners of the World Health Summit and will strongly contribute to the WHS 2023. 

Read the article

The World Health Summit is supported by a number of partners from academia, industry, civil society, and policy. Thank you to our sponsoring partners: