Dear friends,

As 2024 draws to a close, we find ourselves reflecting on a transformative year for global health, including both challenges and achievements. The resilience and dedication of the global health community remains of utmost importance.

2024 was a landmark year for the World Health Summit in advancing global health through collaboration and impactful dialogue. In April, the WHS Regional Meeting in Melbourne, hosted by Monash University, gathered participants from over 30 countries to address the theme “Shaping the Future of Healthcare Across Asia and the Pacific”. With a focus on thriving communities, climate and health, and geopolitics and health equity, this meeting championed regional collaboration and action.

In October, the World Health Summit in Berlin was held under the motto “Building Trust for a Healthier World”. A very tangible token for the trust in our multinational organizations were the pledges of nations and civil society organizations at the Signature Event which led to 1 billion USD in support for the WHO Investment Round. Also, at the World Health Summit, the ‘M8-Alliance’, a network of leading academic institutions active in global health, was renamed to the WHS Academic Alliance. This reflects its global inclusive nature and its strong interaction with the World Health Summit.

As we look ahead to 2025, the challenges are significant, but so is the momentum we’ve built together. We need to ensure that efforts to increase quality and equity of health coverage are strengthened in times of multiple crises. The World Health Summit and the WHS Academic Alliance remain dedicated to fostering collaboration and driving solutions to the world’s most pressing health challenges.

Our thanks go to partners, collaborators, and colleagues worldwide: thank you for your remarkable contributions. Your efforts are the foundation of everything we achieve together – and this will be as true as ever in 2025.

Stay safe, stay healthy!

Axel R. Pries
President
World Health Summit

The World Health Summit team wishes you all the best for 2025!

January 1: G7 Presidency Canada | EU Council Presidency Poland
February 23: Federal Elections in Germany
March 8: International Women's Day
April 7: World Health Day
April 25-27: WHS Regional Meeting in New Delhi, India
May 19-27: 78th World Health Assembly in Geneva, Switzerland
June 15-17: G7 Summit in Kananaskis, Canada
July 1: EU Council Presidency Denmark
July 14-23: High-Level Political Forum in New York, USA
August 12: International Youth Day
September 9-23: 80th UN General Assembly in New York, USA
September 25: 10th Anniversary of the 2030 Agenda
October 12-14: World Health Summit in Berlin, Germany
November 10-21: COP30 in Belém, Brazil
November 22-23: G20 Summit in Johannesburg, South Africa
 

Join the WHS Regional Meeting 2025 in New Delhi, April 25-27, to explore critical issues in global health under the theme 'Scaling Access to Ensure Health Equity.' Engage with global experts on topics such as digital health, planetary health, and health diplomacy, and be part of meaningful discussions shaping the future of global health. Register here

The event is hosted by NIMS University, supported by co-hosts Manipal Academy of Higher Education, and Ashoka University.

Meet the Key Players in Global Health: The WHS Academic Alliance People

Who is behind the WHS Academic Alliance, the academic network of the World Health Summit? Meet the top global health players from leading global health institutions around the world. As members of the WHS Academic Alliance, they all are united by a shared commitment and work tirelessly to promote academic expertise as the backbone of evidence-based decision-making in global health policy. The Alliance provides the annual International President of the World Health Summit and organizes the annual WHS Regional Meeting in the respective member country. The various topics of the WHS Academic Alliance members play a prominent role in the program of the WHS each October in Berlin.

More about the WHS Academic Alliance, its members and activities

WHS Academic Alliance - Sapienza Foundation Thesis Prize 

The WHS Academic Alliance Prize (formerly M8 Alliance Prize), funded by the Roma Sapienza Foundation, honors outstanding postgraduate or doctoral research in Health Sciences. For 2023-2024, Dr. Giulio Francesco Romiti (Sapienza University) received the prize for his impressive dissertation, “Clinical Complexity Profiles and Their Impact on the Management and Natural History of Patients with Atrial Fibrillation.” Four other exceptional finalists were recognized: Dr. Luis Farhat (FMUSP), Dr. Faezeh Maghsood (Tehran University), Dr. Yagmur Pirincci Tok (Istanbul University), and Dr. Joao Pedro Marques (University of Coimbra). Congratulations!

Historic Low in Global Malaria Cases

New data from WHO reveal that an estimated 2.2 billion cases of malaria and 12.7 million deaths have been averted since 2000. According to WHO’s latest World malaria report, this achievement is attributed to the widespread distribution of insecticide-treated mosquito nets, the implementation of effective antimalarial treatments, and the introduction of vaccines.

Source: WHO

President Macron, WHO Director-General, and global health leaders inaugurate WHO Academy in Lyon

The WHO Academy is a revolutionary project which will contribute to a better trained health workforce around the world, through the most ambitious lifelong training programme ever designed in the field of public health. 

Source: WHO

Two billion people struggle with financial hardship because they must pay for healthcare out-of-pocket, and 4.5 billion globally lack access to basic health services. For many, this means choosing between essential treatments and basic necessities like food or housing. Universal Health Coverage (UHC) Day, observed on December 12, highlights the urgent need to address these challenges. Accessible, affordable healthcare must be prioritized to ensure no one is forced into poverty due to health costs.

Source: WHO

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

Up for working with one of the most important international strategic global health forums and as part of a dedicated team in Berlin? 
The World Health Summit is hiring:

 

• Strategic Engagement Manager (deadline: January 25)

 

• Event Manager (deadline: January 25)

 

• Student Assistant Communications (deadline: January 31)

 

• Program Assistant (deadline: January 25)

 

Get in touch with us, we look forward to hearing from you.
See all details here.