The CEO of the World Innovation Summit for Health (WISH), Dr Slim Slama, joins us on this episode of The afikra Podcast to give an in-depth look into the complexities and challenges facing global health today, including the rise of non-communicable diseases, the impact of urbanization, and the inequity in health systems worldwide. The conversation also explores the innovative approaches in healthcare, the role of AI, and the specific health issues pertinent to the Arab world. Through his diverse experiences working in crisis-affected areas and his insights on the evolving dynamics between the East and the West, Dr Slama provides an enriching perspective on how to advance global health for all. 

This episode was recorded on March 6 and is brought to you in collaboration with Qatar Foundation.

00:00 Introduction
01:23 Defining Global Health
04:12 Evolution of Public Health Issues
06:59 Health Challenges in the Arab World
11:00 Healthcare in Crisis-Affected Areas
14:22 Ministries of Health: Performance and Challenges
25:19 Global Health Workforce Shortages
28:34 AI in Healthcare: Opportunities and Challenges
38:12 Healthcare in Gaza: Current Situation and Future
41:42 Impact of Political Decisions on Global Health
45:03 Future of Healthcare in the Arab World
47:11 Conclusion and WISH's Future Plans

Dr. Slim Slama is the Chief Executive Officer of the World Innovation Summit for Health (WISH) at Qatar Foundation. He is an internal medicine specialist and a public health expert with over 25 years of experience in global health. For more than a decade at the World Health Organization (WHO), his role was Regional Adviser for Non-Communicable Disease (NCD) prevention and management at the WHO Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean. He transitioned to the Head of the Management-Screening, Diagnosis, and Treatment Unit (MND) where he provided strategic leadership and oversaw the development and implementation of a portfolio focused on early detection, diagnosis, and management of NCDs, including cardiovascular diseases, cancer, diabetes, chronic respiratory diseases, oral health, and digital health solutions. His work also extended to implementation research and managing NCDs in humanitarian settings.

Connect with Dr Slama 👉 https://ch.linkedin.com/in/slimslama

Hosted by: 
Mikey Muhanna 👉 https://www.instagram.com/mikey_mu/?hl=en-gb

Hosted by: 
Mikey Muhanna 👉 https://www.instagram.com/mikey_mu/?hl=en-gb

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