M8 Alliance Declaration 2017 Berlin

M8 Alliance Declaration
World Health Summit 2017
Health is a political choice
Global health is increasingly shaped in the political arena. For the first time
the heads of state of the G20 included priority global health issues in their
final declaration. Health is recognized as a central piece of the Sustainable
Development Agenda 2030 and it is now a regular feature at the UN General
Assembly. Many regional political bodies are engaging to improve health
whilst city initiatives for health are gaining in relevance. The member states
of the WHO have elected a new Director General with a strong commitment
to the right of all people to Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and to gender
equity. At the same time global solidarity for health is challenged by a wave
of populism. This year's World Health Summit (WHS) sends a strong
message that determined political leadership is required to counteract
forces that endanger global health progress.
The rich discussions at the World Health Summit 2017 lead us to highlight
the need for action in six key areas of global health:
1. Commitment to Strong and Reliable Governance
The world needs strong global health institutions to set norms and standards, respond
to outbreaks and to protect and support the most vulnerable. Their work needs the
support of decision makers at the highest level and it is essential that health remains
a key issue in major political fora such as the G7 and the G20 and in all regional
organizations. Topics such as health security, antimicrobial resistance and the health
impact of climate change, “One Health”, “Health in all Policies” reach far beyond the
health sector and need the involvement of heads of government and other
stakeholders. Interdisciplinary collaboration is the critical factor - all stakeholders
from academia, the private sector, civil society and politics have to work together.
Governments have to coordinate their activities, support international cooperation
and strengthen the World Health Organization (WHO). The Sustainable Development
Goals have provided the road map for action.
The M8 Alliance calls on the countries hosting the next G7 and G20 summits and
holding the presidencies of key regional organizations to include global health
challenges on their agendas and to make the political choices required to ensure the
implementation of the 2030 SDG agenda.
World Health Summit 2017, Berlin Page 1 / 4
2. Commitment to Ensure Global Health Security
The world is not yet ready to respond sufficiently to a major pandemic threat, despite
a range of new initiatives which have been created to support greater health security
for all. The joint global effort to implement the International Health Regulations (IHR)
must continue with vigor and strong financial support – from both donor and domestic
resources. Investments in science and innovation as well as in public health
institutions and capacity are critical. This requires synergies between national,
regional and global action, between public and private actors and between
development und humanitarian organizations.
The M8 Alliance calls on decision makers to maintain and strengthen their investment
in health security, especially the implementation of the IHR. This must include
ensuring the safety of health and humanitarian workers in war and conflict zones.
Investing in resilient health systems and capacity at community level is one of the
best approaches to ensure greater safety and reduce vulnerability.
3. Commitment to Healthy and Resilient Cities
Cities are becoming transformative drivers of sustainable development and key

actors in global health. Their challenge is to act for health locally and integrate health
into urban planning, housing investment and social policy decisions as cities continue
to grow and change. Urban populations face many health risks, among them
pollution, noise, overcrowding, traffic, insufficient access to drinking water and
sanitary facilities, crime, and infectious disease. The NCD pandemic will only be
resolved if there is also determined action at the city level.
The M8 Alliances welcomes the increasing number of city initiatives and networks
that support health and calls on Mayors to give particular attention to the social
determinants of health and their impact on the next generation of children and young
people.
4. Commitment to Responsible Approaches to Big Data
Data are increasingly a cornerstone of the healthcare in all sectors including industry
and its value is rising exponentially. It documents everything from blood pressure
readings, wearables, sensors and treatment outcomes, surgical records to insurance
claims, immunization histories, patient demographics and receipts of payment. Big
Data and artificial intelligence can bridge the gap between healthcare delivery and
population health and improve many health outcomes through enhanced methods of
research. The digital future of health has only just begun and in many cases outpaces
the policy responses.
The M8 Alliance calls on international organizations and on policy makers to prioritize

the digital potential of health systems and to rapidly and systematically address the
ethical, commercial, regulatory and technical challenges that come with this change.
5. Commitment to Research, Innovation and Development
Progress in global health is driven by great scientific progress and innovation in health
research. Investing in basic research, science and technology is a game changer in
all areas – In global health the development of vaccines offers the best means for
controlling, eliminating and eradicating dangerous communicable pathogens.
Intensified global efforts to step up vaccine research and development are therefore
essential and a range of new initiatives – such as GAVI and CEPI – support the move
in this direction. Important initiatives are also emerging to address the challenge of
antimicrobial resistance. Part of such an effort must be the support to institution and
capacity building in the global South and strong cooperation networks that span the
globe. The support of digitalization is a key component of any such strategy.
The M8 Alliance calls on countries, private sector actors and international

organizations to significantly step up their investment in innovation, science and
technology, including implementation sciences, interdisciplinary and translational
work as well as technology transfer.
6. Commitment to Innovation and Health Systems Strengthening in

Africa
Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals will require significant innovations

regarding how investments and partnerships are developed with low and middle
income counties around the world, especially in Africa. This includes information
sharing and knowledge exchange. A new generation of well-trained scientists and
health professionals stands ready to contribute if there are institutions within which
they can work and serve. Domestic investment will play an ever more important role
– yet cooperation among African countries as in other regions of the world will be
more important than ever before in order to muster the still scarce resources.
The M8 Alliance calls on professional organizations to actively contribute to new

models of institution building and professional development to promote indigenous
capacity in science and technology. Strategies to develop a highly competent health
workforce, managing work force migration and circulation, involvement of Diasporas
of professionals and scientists will gain in relevance. First successes in Africa show
that progress is possible – they must be stepped up and supported.
The M8 Alliance renews its full commitment to support goal 3 of the

Sustainable Development Goals which aims to: “Ensure healthy lives and
promote wellbeing for all at all ages.” We call on heads of state and
government to invest in people and to ensure that no one is left behind.
The M8 Alliance commits to the transformative approach of the Sustainable

Development Goals. Success in SDG goal 3 will be achieved in a cross
sectoral approach involving many of the other SDGs. We call on politicians
to make the political choice for health.
World Health Summit:
The World Health Summit is one of the world’s most prominent strategic forums for
global health. The interdisciplinary event takes place within an atmosphere of
academic freedom and is the premiere international platform for exploring strategic
developments and decisions in the area of healthcare.
Every October, internationally renowned leaders and representatives from the

sciences, politics, business, and civil society travel to Berlin for the World Health
Summit to discuss the latest challenges facing medical research and healthcare. The
World Health Summit enjoys the high patronage of German Chancellor Angela Merkel,
the President of the French Republic Emmanuel Macron and European Commission
President Jean-Claude Juncker
M8 Alliance:
The M8 Alliance of Academic Health Centers, Universities and National Academies is

a unique collaborative network and think tank, made up of leading international
medical universities, research institutions and all National Academies of medicine and
science, the InterAcademy Partnership (IAP). The M8 Alliance was founded in 2009
at the inaugural World Health Summit, and has provided an outstanding academic
foundation ever since.
The M8 Alliance currently has 25 members based in 18 different countries, all of

which are committed to improving global health and working with political and
economic decision-makers to develop science-based solutions to health challenges
worldwide. The M8 Alliance promotes the translation of research from bench to
bedside to population health, as well as the transformation of current medical care
approaches to treating the ill by creating healthcare systems aimed at the effective
prevention of disease at the global level.

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M8 Alliance Declaration

World Health Summit 2017

Health is a political choice

1. Commitment to Strong and Reliable Governance

3. Commitment to Healthy and Resilient Cities

Cities are becoming transformative drivers of sustainable development and key

4. Commitment to Responsible Approaches to Big Data

The M8 Alliance calls on international organizations and on policy makers to prioritize

The M8 Alliance calls on countries, private sector actors and international

6. Commitment to Innovation and Health Systems Strengthening in

Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals will require significant innovations

The M8 Alliance calls on professional organizations to actively contribute to new

The M8 Alliance renews its full commitment to support goal 3 of the

The M8 Alliance commits to the transformative approach of the Sustainable

Every October, internationally renowned leaders and representatives from the

The M8 Alliance of Academic Health Centers, Universities and National Academies is

The M8 Alliance currently has 25 members based in 18 different countries, all of

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