Newsletter 10-2/2024: WHS 2024 Wrap-Up and News from the WHS Academic Alliance

Dear Friends and Global Health Advocates,

The World Health Summit 2024 has come to a close, marking an extraordinary milestone for global health. Over 3,500 participants joined us on-site from 140 countries. Together, we shared insights and innovations through 67 sessions, with 380 speakers leading the way.

A highlight of the WHS 2024 was the largest pledging event of the WHO Investment Round so far, where financial support totalling one billion US dollars was assured or reaffirmed. The “All for Health, Health for All: Signature Event for the WHO Investment Round” brought together leaders such as Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Bill Gates, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus and multiple heads of state and health ministers. With 1,700 attendees on-site and thousands following live online, this event demonstrated the global commitment to strengthening health systems worldwide.

The summit was truly inspiring - a diverse range of participants, from youth leaders to policymakers, came together to shape the future of global health. The energy and optimism shown at WHS 2024 are crucial when we all move forward to turn these discussions into actionable solutions. While the work ahead is challenging, our global health community stands united in the mission to improve health and well-being for all.

Looking ahead, the WHS Regional Meeting in New Delhi from April 25-27, 2025 will be the next landmark event followed by the World Health Summit 2025 in Berlin, from October 12-14. We look forward to seeing you there!

Stay safe, stay healthy!

Axel R. Pries
President
World Health Summit

Session Recordings

Rewatch the WHS 2024 sessions here.

Gender Balance

At the WHS 2024, there were more female speakers than male speakers: 51% women, 49% men. Among the participants, 55% indicated to be female and 44% male. 

Insights and Opinions

More than 380 speakers shared their expertise at the WHS 2024 - read various quotes on our website and follow us on X, LinkedIn, Facebook, or Instagram for more.

On the occasion of the launch of the new edition of Health: A Political Choice – Enhancing Resilience and Trust at the WHS 2024, contributors spoke about the greatest needs, successes and challenges in building trust in global health. Watch their videos, including World Health Summit president Axel R. Pries, here.
 

Selected Speeches

Read some of the WHS 2024 speeches on our website. 
 

Signature Event for the WHO Investment Round

At the World Health Summit 2024, the largest donor event for the WHO Investment Round so far was hosted, with pledges totaling one billion US dollars made or reaffirmed. “All for Health, Health for All: Signature Event for the WHO Investment Round” was attended by high-level speakers such as Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz, the Chair of the Gates Foundation, Bill Gates, and Director-General of WHO, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
 

Launches and Announcements

During the WHS 2024, more than 50 partner events, side events, announcements, and launches took place, such as the launches of Global Health 2050: The Lancet Commission on Investing in Health 3.0 and of the Inauguration of the WomenX Collective Berlin Hub.

Find details and more special events here.
 

Social Media 

More than 33,000 interactions, over 320 posts on our channels, 150% more members in the WHS on-site participants LinkedIn group compared to last year - these are some of the World Health Summit social media statistics during October, the month of #WHS2024. Thank you for joining the conversation, engaging in discussions, and sharing your favorite moments on X, LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram. 
 

In the Media

This year's World Health Summit was covered by international and national media including The Guardian, BBC World Service, El País, Carribean News Global, Malawi Voice, ARD Tagesschau, Forbes, ZEIT Online, Tagesspiegel and others.

See media coverage

Tagesspiegel: “Health experts from all over the world are looking to Berlin these days - once again, one would have to say.” 

Forbes: "Through dialogue highlighting climate-health interventions that have worked, this year’s World Health Summit laid important groundwork for doing just that."

Health Policy Watch: “(…) a marquee event on the global health calendar, draws thousands of health leaders, researchers, and advocacy groups.”

Read more on media attention, media quotes, press releases, social media highlights and website reach, ads, and our media partners in this year's media report.

Photos

Our photographers took more than 5,500 photos - for impressions and a look behind the scenes, visit our gallery.

Conference Film

A video recapping the WHS 2024 with images, interviews and insights is in the making and will be released within the next few days. Stay tuned on the WHS social media channels to be among the first ones to watch it. In the meantime: Watch "WHS 2024 in 90 seconds" video impressions here.
 

Partners

The World Health Summit brings together stakeholders from all sectors and all regions of the world to set the agenda for a healthier future. 

Thank you to all World Health Summit 2024 partners!

The international academic network of the World Health Summit has a new name: the former M8 Alliance is now the WHS Academic Alliance. This brand refresh better reflects the growth and evolution of the Alliance since its inception in 2009. Now comprising 30 leading academic institutions, including top-ranked medical and public health universities as well as umbrella organizations from across the globe, the new name and logo capture the Alliance's expanded reach and impact, signaling a significant development of the global network and underscoring the central role of science and research in global health.

In the WHS 2024 program, the WHS Academic Alliance and its topics played an important role: 8 sessions were hosted by members of the Alliance.

Have you noticed what's new about the World Health Summit logo? We worked on colors and shapes and are proud to introduce our brand family of World Health Summit, WHS Academic Alliance and WHS Regional Meeting.

Watch the brand evolution, see the WHS Academic Alliance members and the WHS Regional Meeting locations in 1 minute here.

Baton Hand Over - WHS Regional Meeting 2025

While the WHS Regional Meeting 2024 was hosted and organized by Monash University in Melbourne, Australia earlier this year, the 2025 edition is set for New Delhi, India on April 25-27. The ceremonial Baton Hand Over took place during the opening night of the WHS 2024, marking the formal transition of hosts and of the annual International World Health Summit Co-Presidency: The new International President for 2025 is Balvir S. Tomar, Founder and Chancellor of NIMS University Jaipur.

Learn more about the upcoming WHS Regional Meeting here.

BBC World Service Interview with Shadi Saleh from the WHS Academic Alliance

In the framework of the World Health Summit 2024, Dr. Shadi Saleh, founder of the Global Health Institute at the American University of Beirut, a WHS Academic Alliance member institution, gave a radio interview to the BBC World Service. Listen here (starting at 04:27) for his insights on the critical challenges currently facing hospitals and healthcare workers in Lebanon and on what was discussed at the WHS 2024 session on 'Health in War and Conflict', organized by WHS Academic Alliance member Tehran University of Medical Sciences (TUMS).

Check out the latest info, recent projects, and upcoming events on the Charité Center for Global Health website.