Health is the major topic of the 21st century. The increase of chronic diseases in every part of the world, together with changing demographics, imposes tough challenges on our health systems. The shift to a more personalized medicine brings along great opportunities but also sincere questions of feasibility which we need to solve. This requires true collaboration and close links between governments, researchers and industry, between public and private sectors. Financial constraints force us to increase efficiency and reduce costs but not the quality of health care. This requires less bureaucracy for more action.

Eleven years ago, the world committed itself to the Millennium Developmental Goals: reduce extreme poverty, increase education, decrease child mortality, improve maternal health, and reduce infectious diseases. We still have a considerable way ahead of us. The financial crisis has left its severe marks in rich countries while it costs lives in the poorest ones. We need innovative financing models and new governance structures to sustain the financial engagements of the rich countries for the poor. Our structures have to adapt to the health challenges of the 21st century.

The World Health Summit being held at the Charité in Berlin has become the foremost global meeting of its kind to convene leaders from academia, economy, industry, governments, international organizations and civil society around the pressing health issues of our time. It also contributes to promote the work fulfilled by the M8 Alliance which brings together eight major faculties of medicine throughout the world.

I wish all the best for the 3rd edition of the World Health Summit.


Nicolas Sarkozy
President of the French Republic