Held 6-8 February in Copenhagen, this symposium aimed at developing priorities for public health action to support the adoption of digital health in European Member States and at further refining input to the development of a European vision and roadmap for the digitalization of national health systems. Anna Riera (Unió Catalana d'Hospitals, IHF Member) participated to the meeting on behalf of IHF and summarized key ideas exchanged at sessions debates (see attached). Digitalization enables human centered data management which implications will reshape health care delivery in the future.
Access the event website here. 

The Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) published a report on the implications of key trends in the global medical technology (medtech) industry in 2019 on emerging markets. It highlights an interview of Dr. Muna Tahlak, IHF Treasurer and CEO of Latifa Hospital in Dubai, who provides an overview of UAE hospitals' preparedness for adopting new healthcare technologies. The report also contains advices for companies to access emerging markets.
​​​​​​​Click on Read more to access an excerpt of the full report featuring the interview of Dr. Muna Tahlak. The full report  MedTech in Emerging Markets 2019 A market access trend report in emerging markets is available here.

The Brazilian Hospitals Federation (FBH) is a non-profit association that has been representing Brazilian hospitals for more than 50 years. FBH acts closely with the 6.784 institutions it encompasses, of which 2.916 are public health care providers, to boost Brazilian hospital sector volume and quality by providing them public and private strategic information.
FBH also produces their own magazine called: Visão Hospitalar (Hospital Vision), since 2012, producing specific content, especially on issues directly related to hospital daily problems, generating technical and accurate strategic information for their managers, health executives and special readers. 
FBH's Mission is to encourage hospitals to provide people better care. 
​​​​​​​For more information, view the IHF bulletin on FBH and on the Brazilian Unified Health System (SUS), available here.

On 12 February, in Geneva, Switzerland, IHF secreteriat staff attended a seminar co-organized by the WHO, UNAIDS and TDR. Healthcare delivery issues are far from being solved. With over 1 billion people still lacking proper access to healthcare, research and partnerships must be enhanced to move all countries closer to UHC through innovative approaches. The Social Innovation in Health Initiative highlights the beneficial impacts of relational cultures and community inclusion on people’s lives and health outcomes. They demonstrate that innovation is sometimes “just” about going back to social basics and embracing them.
Read more on Social Innovation here. 
​​​​​​​Enclosed is the report on the seminar. 

Spending on health is growing faster than the rest of the global economy, accounting for 10% of global gross domestic product (GDP). A new report on global health expenditure from the World Health Organization (WHO) reveals a swift upward trajectory of global health spending, which is particularly noticeable in low- and middle-income countries where health spending is growing on average 6% annually compared with 4% in high-income countries. The WHO press release gives a good overview of all key messages.
​​​​​​​Click on "Read more" to read the full report.

Due to overwhelming demand, the abstract submission for paper presentations and posters for the World Hospital Congress has been extended to 1 March. Hospitals and health service providers that want to share their programs, projects, researches and experiences with health leaders and professionals from across the globe can still submit their abstracts in response to the overarching theme “People at the heart of health services in peace and crisis”. The sub-themes are: Resilient health services, Health investment for prosperity, Innovation for health impact.

Unicancer unites the French Comprehensive Cancer Centres (FCCCs), private non-profit health institutions specializing in oncology. Unicancer facilitates the pooling of resources and skills between FCCCs and runs benchmarking. Unicancer's mission is to help FCCCs access latest innovation for the benefit of their patients. It also advocates for FCCCs with public authorities and focuses on promoting the FCCCs' organization model in cancer care. 
Unicancer conducts prospective studies to better identify the future of cancer care, the patient needs and the innovations to come, and supports clinical research in oncology in France and abroad.
More details on the prospective studies are provided in the full bulletin below.

The French National Cancer Institute (INCa), bringing together relevant actors of the sector, is in charge of cancer control. It aims at reducing the incidence of avoidable cancers and the number of cancer deaths, improving the quality of life of people with cancer during and after their illness, and reducing inequalities related to cancer. Its approach encompasses all cancer-control dimensions and areas of intervention for the benefit of patients and their relatives. The Institute is responsible for rolling out the 2014-2019 Cancer Plan. ​​​​​​​The Plan aims at curing more patients and ensuring access equity to quality medicine and innovation. It also deals with comprehensive patient care, reduction of cancer deaths and fight against cancer.

Pascale Flamant has been Unicancer CEO since 2011. Unicancer is the only hospital network fully devoted to fighting cancer. Cancer treatment is confronted to the cost of innovative medicine such as access to new treatments and equipment in oncology. Also artificial intelligence role will be more prominent in health care delivery. Both concerns are observed in every countries worldwide. 
At IHF, Unicancer can learn about good practices and be more visible on the international scene. In the next five years they expect IHF to weigh more on the international stage on public health issues, to facilitate co-operation among members and strengthen their management, and to collaborate with patient representative associations.

FHF represents almost all the French public healthcare sector. It promotes public hospitals and social care public institutions through a major annual event, the Paris Healthcare Week, it trains healthcare professionals and organizes  campaigns public hospitals and hospital staff. Healthcare professionals receive advice from FHF on daily practical issues they face. Finally, FHF partners with public authorities to elaborate proposals and assist the implementation of reforms in the hospital sector. 

​​​​​​​More information on FHF and the French healthcare system in the full bulletin below.