Berlin, Germany | October 21^st - 24^th, 2012

Key Messages 2011

The Key Messages from all sessions will provide you with the main results of the discussions, showing that some important steps in improving the health worldwide have been made, concerted actions and joint efforts of academia, the private sector, politics and civil society are well underway and new directions have been proposed.

Non-communicable Diseases and Mental Health

Non-communicable diseases are now the leading causes of death worldwide. The great burden of treating the rising numbers of chronically ill patients (including cardiovascular diseases, obesity, diabetes, mental-ill health) is becoming an urgent priority in high-income countries as well as in low- and middle-income regions. New solutions for a sustainable adaptation of healthcare systems to this epidemiological transition have been proposed. Awareness of all concerned must be raised about the global economic risk and impact of these chronic / non-communicable diseases. The rapid scientific progress has to be translated in innovation, improved treatment and prevention.

Climate Change and Health

Groundbreaking evidence is now available for certain actions to prevent climate-change associated health risks.Societies worldwide need to adapt these programs in order to reduce the projected adverse impact. Strengthening national and international public health infrastructure is an essential component in this important process. The InterAcademy Medical Panel (IAMP), the global network of academies of medicine, and medical sectors within national academies as members of the “M8 Alliance” are playing a crucial role in setting the international agenda.

Governments and Health Governance

Governments and health governance structures around the world are struggling with the challenges of providing good-quality healthcare under conditions of increasing financial constraints. But if the scale of investments in health is not maintained, worldwide improvements achieved at great cost will be at risk. It is crucial for the long-term sustainability that all countries do respond with increased efforts in research and health care spending even in these times of a global financial crisis.