1. Introduction
In the Global South, active participation in the World Investment Forum (WIF) is of paramount importance, particularly on health care issues. This is covered under SDG-3 which has a target date of 2030 to enable an ecosystem which will leave no one behind.
Alas, many nations in the South grapple with pressing health challenges that profoundly affect their populations and economies. At the same time digitalisation is increasingly being used to deliver better health care to the rural poor in the Global South. Engaging in this forum offers a vital opportunity to interact with global leaders, experts, and policymakers in finding sustainable solutions to complex health issues. The covid pandemic has taught us on how inept our health care systems, globally, are and that is a real wake up call.
We expect the forum to serve as a bridge, connecting all nations with international investors, development partners, and health experts. It will provide a platform to showcase the urgent need for investments in healthcare infrastructure, research, and technology, particularly where accessibility and quality are limited.
Furthermore, active involvement in the WIF enables poor countries to advocate for equitable access to healthcare services and promote initiatives that improve the well-being of their populations. It underscores the significance of healthcare investments as catalysts for poverty reduction, economic growth, overall societal progress and global harmony.
|
|
2. WIF Sessions Spotlight
|
|
|
2.1: Game-Changing Solutions for Sustainable Development Health
Date: October 17, 2023
Time: 15:00 – 16:00
GMT+4
|
In the "Game-changing solutions for Sustainable Development: Health" event, influential leaders from pioneering enterprises will present visionary perspectives on investment, entrepreneurship, and sustainable development. They will unveil groundbreaking healthcare solutions driven by digitalisation and AI, enhancing accessibility, affordability, and quality of care. The discussion aims to distill insights for policymakers and investors, fostering a transformative investment landscape and accelerating progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals. For more …
|
|
|
2.2: Entrepreneurship and Innovation in the New Health Economy
Date: October 18, 2023
Time: 12:00 – 13:00
GMT+4
|
The "New Health Economy" has emerged from a decade of transformative changes in healthcare, accelerated by innovation in both practice and service delivery. Start-ups and SMEs are driving innovation with technologies like AI and robotics. While significant financing has supported these ventures, more investment is crucial, especially in developing countries. This session highlights technology's role in enhancing healthcare, explores private sector involvement, and seeks effective policies to extend these benefits to underserved populations. For more …
|
|
|
2.3: Investing in Health
Date: October 18, 2023
Time: 14:00 – 16:00
GMT+4
|
To achieve SDG 3 ("Good Health and Well-Being"), substantial healthcare investment, around US$100bn annually in developing countries, is required. Domestic and international funding falls short. This UNCTAD event at the World Investment Forum convenes stakeholders to discuss progress, investment priorities, and partnerships for healthcare, particularly in developing nations. The focus is on addressing opportunities and challenges in boosting essential healthcare investment. For more …
|
|
|
2.4: Investing in Vaccine Supply Chain Resilience and Local Production
Date: October 18, 2023
Time: 16:30 – 18:00
GMT+4
|
The COVID-19 pandemic has underscored the need to enhance the resilience of global vaccine supply chains, particularly in developing areas. These supply chains face issues like production inefficiencies, concentrated supply sources, and unpredictable market demand. Ensuring equitable global immunisation is vital, and one approach is to boost local vaccine production in developing regions. This event aims to unite international investors, multinationals, technology developers, development partners, and governments to explore strategies for investing in supply chain resilience and local vaccine production. For more …
|
|
3. Investment News Roundup
|
|
|
3.1 Investment Climate in Health care with a special focus on hospitals
The hospital industry in India, which is one of the sub-segments of the sector, currently accounts for 80 percent of the total healthcare market and is witnessing a huge investor demand from both global as well as domestic investors. There is a need to detail the differences among the various healthcare industries and which metrics investors should follow before making an investment. Read more…
In this context, a session at WIF 23 on Entrepreneurship and Innovation in the New Health Economy will discuss the role of private financiers and investors, and the potential for partnerships with the public sector to expand new health services in developing countries and will attempt to identify effective policy approaches to maximise the benefits of the New Health Economy for the poorest populations.
|
|
|
3.2 Boosting investment in health systems will be essential to deal with future shocks, says OECD
According to a new OECD report titled, ‘Ready for the Next Crisis? Investing in Health System Resilience’, governments should urgently adapt their health systems to better respond to future shocks, given the huge impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on people and the global economy. Major investment is needed in the health workforce, alongside increased spending on prevention and digital infrastructure. Read more…
To better understand the opportunities and challenges in boosting investment in the health sector where it is needed the most, a session at WIF 23 titled Investing in Health will bring together national and international policymakers, multilateral organisations, civil society representatives, and private sector investors to discuss progress to date, identify priorities for investment in health going forward, and explore options for new partnerships.
|
|
|
3.3 Multilateral development banks and WHO launch new investment platform to strengthen primary health care services
Three multilateral development banks viz. African Development Bank (AfDB), European Investment Bank (EIB), and Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) have partnered with WHO to launch the new Health Impact Investment Platform, which aims to strengthen and invest in crucial primary health care (PHC) services in low- and low-and-middle-income countries (LICs and LMICs) that are climate and crisis resilient. Read more…
|
|
|
|
|
