View/print the Global Medical Forum (pdf format)

The Global Medical Forum Foundation is a non-profit private global Foundation of selected innovators and decision-makers in healthcare. The Foundation is a means to better understand the interrelationship of the global systems of healthcare.

It is a place to discuss rational solutions to the healthcare debate and it is a provider of unbiased information to the public as a whole on the value and role of medical innovation and technology, the financing of healthcare, and other related issues of public policy.

Every nation - every healthcare business leader, health minister, and scientist - faces virtually the same challenges in advancing new technologies and agents through an efficient and rational system of healthcare financing. The issues that these leaders face are more similar than different.

It is in the spirit of the goals of the Global Medical Forum Foundation and a belief that participants in the global healthcare system have much to learn from one another that the Foundation is organizing this Summit for the Middle East.

The objective of this Summit to bring experts who have substantial experience both inside and outside the region to share what they have learned about issues that are of major consequence in the Middle East. As healthcare systems in this part of the world are coming under significant cost, equity, quality and access pressures, how other nations have dealt with these challenges can be of value.

The Summit is being organized by the Global Medical Forum Foundation in collaboration with the Ministry of Public Health, Lebanon and the Lebanese HealthCare Management Association (a chapter of the Lebanese Management Association), Lebanon. The Summit is financed by organizations, companies, institutions and associations such as yours. The partners cover entirely the costs of this Summit.

The venue of the Summit is the Movenpick Hotel and Conference Center, Beirut, Lebanon.

Cooperation with the Middle East Medical Assembly (MEMA)

The Global Medical Forum Foundation is pleased to time its first summit in Beirut two days before the opening of the XXXVIIIth Middle East Medical Assembly, to be held in Beirut from 13 to 16 May 2004. As the GMF summit I ends, the 38 MEMA will start.

The Middle East Medical Assembly was initiated in 1951. It is organized by the Faculty of Medicine of the American University of Beirut and by the Medical Alumni Association of this University. Over the past few years, MEMA has been fortunate to earn the partnership of a world leader in the delivery of healthcare, the prestigious Cleveland Clinic Foundation.

The XXXVIIIth Middle East Medical Assembly represents an additional landmark in the long tradition of this annual scientific and educational forum. It serves well the mission of the AUB Faculty of Medicine in promoting scientific and medical exchange and collaboration. As in each assembly, a distinguished group of accomplished and renowned scientists and professionals will join the AUB faculty in offering a very rich and informative program.

It gives us all great pleasure to invite you to share with us this unique experience: a blend of science, culture and above all, camaraderie. The two scientific events are indeed complementary and serve to bring together authorities in the fields of medicine and public health, from the Middle East, the American Continent, Europe and indeed the entire world. This gathering will discuss the impact of new discoveries in medical research, innovations in Technology and the issues surrounding the delivery of healthcare.

Come join us in Lebanon and experience for yourself the unique beauty of this country, its historical heritage, the kind hospitality of its people and its cultural riches.

Summit Program: 11 to 13 May 2004

The countries of the Middle East comprise a heterogeneous assemblage of societies some of which are poor and others fabulously wealthy. From Qatar to Mauritania, these nations face challenges in all aspects of healthcare delivery whether it is primary care centers, hospital equipment, medical teaching institutions and the supply of trained and committed personnel. One challenge unifies all of these areas: The proper integration of new therapies, medical technologies and information systems. In no other region of the world are the possibilities so great and, at the same time, the physical and cultural barriers so complex.

This summit will explore these possibilities from three distinct perspectives: public policy & finance, therapeutics and technology.

1900 to 2000 hrs.        Registration and Reception

2000 to 2030 hrs.        Words of welcome
                         Prof. Dr. Raphael H. Levey, Chairman, Global
                         Medical Forum Foundation
                         Prof. Dr. Nabil Kronfol, Chairman Middle
                         East, Global Medical Forum
                         Foundation
               
2030 to 2045 hrs         Switzerland and the Middle East: A network of Leaders
                         Dr Stephan Kux, Head of Public Economy and
                         Labor, Canton of Zurich
        
2045 to 2100 hrs.        Official opening by HE the
                         President of the Republic


2100 to 2130 hrs         Infectious Diseases: New Challenges
                         for the 21st Century
                         Prof. Dean Donald A Henderson

Daily Program: Wednesday 12 May 2004, Morning
Plenary Session: An Overview of Healthcare in the Region

0830 to 0900 hrs.   Registration

0900 to 0905 hrs.   Welcome & thanks to our partners
                    Prof. Dr. Nabil Kronfol, Chairman Middle
                    East, Global Medical Forum
                    Foundation

0905 to 0915 hrs.   Introduction to the topic
                    Chair: HE Minister Suleiman Franjieh,
                    Minister of Public Health, Lebanon
                    HE Dr. Walid Ammar, Director-General,
                    Ministry of Public Health, Lebanon
               
0915 to 0935 hrs.   The state of health care in the
                    region: Successes and challenges
                    Hussein Gezairy, Regional Director, World
                    Health Organization, EMRO

0935 to 0955 hrs.   Health Reform in the MENA Region:
                    The Future is Now
                    George Schieber, Manager, Health and Social
                    Protection Sector, The World Bank


0955 to 1030 hrs.   Panel discussion -
                    Moderator HE Mr Marwan Hamadeh
                    Minister of Economy and Trade, Republic of
                    Lebanon


1030 to 1050 hrs    Coffee Break



1050 to 1100 hrs.   Chair: HE Mr Said Darwazah,
                    Minister of Health, Jordan
                    Introductory remarks

1100 to 1120 hrs.   Public health care system in the
                    Middle East: Oman as a case study
                    Mr Mohamad Hasan Ali Abdawani, Undersecretary
                    for Planning, Ministry of Health, Sultanate
                    of Oman

1120 to 1140 hrs.   Re-Building the Iraqi healthcare
                    system: Challenges and Opportunities
                    HE Dr Khudair Abbas, Minister of Health, Iraq

1140 to 1200 hrs    Entreprise Hospital Information Systems
                    Mr Pat Downing, CEO, Global Care solutions


1200 to 1245 hrs.   Panel discussion
                    Introduction: Mr Michal Rutowski
                    Sector Director, Human Development, MENA
                    Region, The World Bank
               

1300 to 1410 hrs.   Luncheon



Daily Program: Wednesday 12 May 2004, Afternoon

Plenary Session: Options for Financing Medical Care in the
Region


1400 to 1410 hrs.   Chair: HE Dr Eyyad Chatti, Minister
                    of Health, Syrian Arab Republic
                    Introductory Remarks


1410 to 1430 hrs.   Funding alternatives and models for
                    the management of benefits in the region
                    Mr. Munir Kharma, Chairman of the Board,
                    GlobeMed Ltd


1430 to 1450 hrs    Financing health care after
                    retirement: A pre-funding approach
                    Mr Ibrahim Muhanna, President Muhanna
                    Foundation


1450 to 1510 hrs.   Global principles for better health
care: Lessons and their relevance to the Middle
                    East
                    Mr Edward Bramley-Harker, Associate Director,
                    National Economic Research
                    Associates (NERA)

1510 to 1540 hrs    Panel discussion
                    Moderator: HE Mr Fuad Siniora, Minister of
                    Finances
                    Republic of Lebanon


1540 to 1600 hrs    Coffee break


Plenary Session: What are the key advances in therapeutics
for the region?

1600 to 1610 hrs    Chair: HE Dr Ahmad Jarallah,
                    Minister of Health, State of Kuwait
                    Introductory comments


1610 to 1630 hrs.   What are the key advances in
                    Therapeutics
                    Janssen Cilag Representative

1630 to 1650 hrs.   Recent advances in the treatment of
                    cardiovascular diseases
                    Dr Michael Achtelik, Director for Therapy and
                    Development, MedTronics


1650 to 1710 hrs.   Panel discussion
                    Moderator: HE Dr Abdul Ghaffar Abdul
                    Ghaffour, Undersecretary, Ministry of
                    Health, United Arab Emirates



2000 hrs            Gala Dinner- BIEL


Daily Program: Thursday 13 May 2004, Morning

Plenary Session: Technology and informatics for building
Centers of Excellence in the Middle East


0900 to 0910 hrs.   Chair: HE Dr Bachir Al Munajjed,
                    Minister of Telecommunications, Syrian Arab
                    Republic- Introductory remarks

               
0910 to 0930 hrs.   Technology Assessment for Quality care
                    Dr Joel Nobel, President Emeritus, ECRI

0930 to 0950 hrs.   Medical Technology and Software
                    solutions for the Middle East
                    Dr Robert Holland, CEO, DXS Systems


0950 to 1010 hrs    Advances in Medical Devices and
                    Quality care
                    Dr Francois Guenot, Johnson & Johnson

1010 to 1030 hrs    Advances in Medical Technology: a
                    cost containment measure?
                    Siemens Representative

1030 to 1110 hrs    Panel discussion
                    Moderator: HE Minister Jean Louis Cordahi
                    Minister of Telecommunications, Lebanon

1110 to 1130 hrs    Coffee break

Plenary Session: Developing the Human Resources and
Educational Facilities in the Middle East

1130 to 1140 hrs.   Chair: HE Dr Hani Mortada. Minister
                    of Higher Education, Syrian Arab Republic
                    Introductory Remarks

1140 to 1200 hrs.   Looking forwards: The medical
                    school and the hospital; Will they evolve
                    together in the Middle East?
                    Dr. Nadim Cortas, Vice President for Medical
                    Affairs, Dean of Medicine,
                    American University of Beirut

1200 to 1220 hrs.   Looking forwards: Education for
                    Public Health
                    Dr Huda Zurayk, Dean of Public Health,
                    American University of Beirut


1220 to 1240 hrs    Moving forward with Health systems
                    development in the Region
                    Dr Belqacem Sabri, Director, Division of
                    Health Systems Development,
                    WHO/EMRO


1240 to 1300 hrs


1300 to 1330 hrs    Panel discussion:
                    Moderator: The Honorable Dr Atef Majdalani
                    Chair, Parliamentary Commission on Health
                    Care, Lebanon
               

1330 to 1345 hrs    Vote of thanks


1400 hrs            Lunch


17:00 hrs           Opening Ceremony
                    38th Middle East Medical Assembly
                    American University of Beirut