Panel discussion

Many aspects of modern healthcare—from hospital infrastructure to insurance models—are still rooted in 20th-century designs and methodologies. As demographics shift, medical advancements accelerate, and patient expectations evolve, healthcare systems must adapt to remain effective and sustainable. Future-ready healthcare requires rethinking hospital planning, financing models, and service delivery to better accommodate aging populations, digital health innovations, and personalized medicine. Exploring the key priorities for transformation will be essential to ensuring that healthcare systems are resilient, efficient, and equipped to meet the demands of the coming decades.

Why now?

The global health spending (expenditures with regards to healthcare services and goods) as a share of GDP is projected to rise steadily from 2024 to 2029, increasing by 0.2 percentage points. By 2029, it is expected to reach a new peak of 6.31%, from 6.07% in 2024.

Impact goals

Identify future challenges and concrete pathways to future-proofing health systems in light of emerging megatrends.

Guiding questions:

• What are the key megatrends that will shape health systems of the next decades?
• Where are the 3 most important areas for action in order to future-proof the healthcare systems in the region and globally?
• For each of these areas of action what types of solutions are needed?
• What approaches can be taken to address both the challenges and opportunities these trends 
  present?

Panel discussion

Global and national development actors, along with philanthropic organizations, have been instrumental in driving public health progress over the past decades, achieving milestones such as polio vaccination, improved sanitation, and enhanced maternal and child health. As health challenges continue to evolve, new priorities are emerging in areas such as infectious disease control, health equity, and sustainable healthcare systems. This shift demands stronger collaborations and innovative approaches from both new and established leaders in global health, as they work together to create lasting, transformative impact.

Why now?

In 2023, global development assistance for health declined to USD 64.6 billion. If health remains a priority for development partners, the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation forecasts that this assistance will further decrease to USD 50.6 billion by 2030. However, if other sectors take priority, it could potentially fall to USD 36.7 billion.

Impact goals

Create a shared understanding among stakeholders on future priorities for impact and how collaboration among stakeholders can be strengthened to address them.

Guiding questions:

• What specific actions can be taken today to tackle the most urgent global health challenges?
• What are the priorities for impact for the next 5-10 years?
• Where is collaboration and pooling of resources most important in light of the changing development landscape?
• Who should take the lead in addressing these priorities?
• What is the role of public-private partnerships in enhancing health equity?

Panel Discussion

Zoonotic diseases and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) represent two of the most urgent and interconnected global health threats of our time—placing growing strain on health systems, especially in regions facing resource challenges or high biodiversity. As countries work to build resilient, responsive health systems, regional and global cooperation is essential to detect and contain outbreaks, safeguard treatments, and protect communities. This panel brings together health leaders to explore how national policies, regional coordination, and global partnerships can reinforce preparedness, scale innovation, and ensure equitable access to both preventive and curative solutions.

Why Now

AMR could cost the global economy up to $3.4 trillion in GDP losses by 2030, while zoonotic spillovers are increasing due to climate change and human-animal interactions. These dual threats are converging, exposing 
gaps in preparedness and demanding urgent, coordinated action

Impact Goals

To catalyze increased investment, policy alignment, and cross-sector collaboration to strengthen surveillance, innovation, and equitable access to solutions addressing both AMR and emerging zoonotic threats.

Guiding Questions

• What are the most promising opportunities to prevent and respond to zoonotic diseases and AMR—from next-generation therapies to early detection tools?
• How can countries build stronger, more coordinated surveillance systems to track zoonotic outbreaks and antimicrobial resistance across borders?
• What roles can international collaboration, public-private partnerships, and regional health institutions play in advancing scalable, sustainable solutions?
• How can financing, regulatory, and health system reforms ensure equitable access to prevention, diagnostics, and treatments in vulnerable and high-risk regions?

Panel discussion

The increasing reliance on advanced drugs and medical technologies has made healthcare supply chains more complex and vulnerable to disruptions. Material shortages, geopolitical instability, and logistical challenges can threaten patient safety and treatment continuity. To address these risks, healthcare systems must adopt proactive strategies to enhance supply chain resilience, ensuring consistent access to critical medicines and equipment. Strengthening collaboration between healthcare providers, governments, and industry leaders will be essential to creating more adaptive, sustainable, and secure supply networks for the future of global health.

Why now?

In 2023, 93% of healthcare providers experienced widespread product shortages. As of 2024, the Supply Chain Resiliency Report highlights 80% of healthcare providers and 84% of suppliers expect supply chain challenges to worsen or remain the same.

Impact goals

Reduce risks in health supply chains by informing and motivating collaboration among healthcare providers and governments.

Guiding questions:

• Where are the most important risks from a regional perspective?
• What are some of the solutions that have worked in countries around the world?
• What are examples of successful collaboration among healthcare providers and governments to reduce supply chain risks in health?
• What are key success factors for these collaborations and how can they be replicated?

Panel Discussion

This session explores how large-scale population health initiatives, such as biobanks and preventive health programs, can enhance the resilience and sustainability of healthcare systems. By enabling early disease detection, data-driven decisionmaking, and precision medicine, these initiatives help reduce long-term healthcare costs, improve health equity, and strengthen 
preparedness for future health challenges. The discussion will highlight how leveraging population health data can drive more efficient, personalized, and proactive healthcare solutions.

Why Now

With chronic diseases causing over 70% of global deaths and healthcare spending projected to hit $11 trillion by 2030, there is an urgent need to shift from reactive care to proactive, precision-based approaches. Biobanks and national health research programs are proving the potential of population health innovation to drive this transformation.

Impact Goals

Highlight how population health initiatives—like biobanks, early detection programs, and health data integration—can strengthen health system sustainability and resilience.

Guiding Questions

• How can population health initiatives such as biobanks and preventive programs improve early detection and long-term health outcomes?
• What are the key enablers of innovation in population health—from data governance to public engagement—and how can they be strengthened?
• How can population health data be leveraged to drive equity, efficiency, and preparedness across healthcare systems?
• What are the challenges and opportunities in scaling population health innovations within and across countries?

Panel discussion

Health systems are under growing pressure from climate change, population growth, and shifting disease
burdens. To meet the demands of the future, governments and innovators must rethink how health services
are powered, delivered, and scaled. This panel explores how clean energy, digital transformation, and
regional cooperation are coming together to build smart, sustainable, and resilient health systems across the
Middle East and beyond.

Why Now

As climate change threatens to cause 250,000 additional deaths annually by 2050 and global healthcare demand is set to rise over 50%, health systems face urgent pressure to adapt. Digital innovation offers a dual solution—telehealth alone can reduce emissions by up to 70 times per visit, while AI and data tools can boost system efficiency by 20–30% and cut waste across supply chains, which account for 71% of the sector’s carbon footprint.

Impact Goals

Promote cross-sector action to integrate digital innovation and clean energy into health systems, advancing resilience, equity, and climate adaptation across developing and emerging economies.

Guiding Questions

• What does a smart, sustainable, and digitally enabled health system look like by 2035, and what are the building blocks to get there?
• Why must governments embed health into climate, energy, and sustainability strategies now, and how can ministries beyond health help lead this shift?
• How is digital entrepreneurship unlocking new models of care and access in resource-constrained or rapidly growing populations?
• What role can global cooperation and emerging technologies like AI, real-time data, and green infrastructure play in shaping more equitable and resilient health systems?

Panel discussion

The doctor of the future will need to seamlessly integrate hard and soft skills, combining medical expertise with technological proficiency and human-centered care. As AI-driven diagnostics, advanced imaging, and digital health tools reshape primary care, physicians must adapt to new training models that emphasize both technical fluency and emotional intelligence. Mastering emerging technologies while maintaining empathy, critical thinking, and communication will be essential to delivering effective, patient-centered care. At the same time, addressing global healthcare workforce shortages requires reimagining medical education. Scalable solutions—such as AI-assisted learning, virtual simulations, and standardized cross-border training—can expand access to quality education and upskilling opportunities. By investing in innovative learning models, we can equip the next generation of healthcare professionals with the skills needed to navigate a rapidly transforming healthcare landscape while ensuring equitable access to care worldwide.

Why now?

AI tools are showing promise—reducing missed detections by up to 70% and taking over routine tasks—while technologies like micro-CTs and micro-MRIs are emerging as key growth areas. Yet despite these advances, surveys consistently show that patients still value empathy and personal connection. At the same time, the world could face a shortage of 10 million health workers by 2030, with the largest gaps in low- and lower-middle-income countries.

Impact goals

To reduce global healthcare workforce shortages by identifying promising avenues for international collaboration on medical training and qualifications, while articulating a clear vision of the key trends shaping the medical workforce of the future—empowering stakeholders to make more informed, future ready decisions.

Guiding questions:

• What are the most critical skills gaps in today’s healthcare workforce, and how are they evolving?
• How will AI and advanced diagnostics reshape the role of healthcare professionals—particularly in primary care?
• What training models are needed to equip future doctors with both technological fluency and human centered care skills?
• How can emerging technologies enhance, rather than replace, the doctor-patient relationship?

Panel discussion

Nearly half of the world’s population faces barriers to healthcare due to poverty, geographic isolation, or both. Advances in technology—from AI-powered diagnostics to telemedicine and digital health education—have the potential to bridge this gap by supporting healthcare professionals in delivering timely, effective, and affordable care. By leveraging data-driven tools, remote monitoring, and innovative treatment solutions, technology can enhance early diagnosis, improve treatment planning, and expand healthcare access to underserved communities. The future of global health depends on harnessing these innovations to create more inclusive and equitable healthcare systems.

Why now?

Over half of the global population (about 4.5 billion people) still faces barriers to accessing essential healthcare, according to the WHO. For 1.3 billion of them, the cost of medical care isn’t just a financial burden; it’s a catalyst for deeper economic hardship, pushing individuals and families into poverty or even extreme poverty.

Impact goals

Increase investment in the most promising technology solutions that reduce barriers to accessing essential healthcare.

Guiding questions:

• Which are the most critical barriers that people face when accessing essential healthcare?
• Which barriers to access can be addressed through the most promising technological solutions over the next 5 or 10 years?
• What is the market potential for these innovative solutions and how should these be funded?

Fireside chat

From children’s bookshelves to the hearts of communities, a new generation of young leaders is reimagining how we heal, connect, and build more compassionate societies. This session features Emirati entrepreneur and publisher AlDhabi AlMheiri, whose work inspires early childhood learning and emotional well-being through storytelling. As mental health needs rise and calls for community-driven care grow louder, this conversation explores how storytelling can be a powerful tool for healing, identity-building, and inclusive impact. AlDhabi reflects on her journey as a young changemaker and how creativity, empathy, and imagination can shape a healthier, more connected future. 

Why Now

Youth under 30 make up over 60% of people in low- and middle-income countries yet remain underrepresented in health leadership. At the same time, child mental health and well-being are emerging as urgent global priorities, calling for fresh, youth-led perspectives on care, inclusion, and innovation. 

Impact Goals

To elevate youth-driven creativity and leadership as a critical force in advancing health equity, early childhood development, and inclusive systems change 

Guiding questions

• What inspired you to start your journey, and how did storytelling become your tool for impact? 
• What challenges did you face as a young leader, and how did you overcome them? 
• How can we create spaces where more young people feel empowered to share their voices and lead change? 

Panel Discussion

As healthcare systems across the globe face rising costs, shifting patient needs, and rapid technological change, collaboration between world-class institutions and regional leaders has never been more critical. This fireside chat brings together visionary executives to explore how strategic partnerships, knowledge exchange, and shared innovation can accelerate transformation at scale. From workforce development to data-driven care, the conversation will unpack how global excellence can be adapted—and scaled—to meet regional priorities and drive sustainable impact.

Why Now

Rising demand for specialized care, value-based models, and tech-driven innovation is reshaping systems worldwide. Institutions like Cleveland Clinic—serving over 3.5 million patients globally—are leading this transformation, making strategic collaboration essential to localize and scale high-quality care

Impact Goals

To explore how global expertise and innovation can be adapted to local contexts through sustained collaboration, driving scalable, high-impact transformation across clinical care, digital health, and health system strategy.

Guiding Questions

• What are the key ingredients for successful global-regional partnerships in healthcare, and how do they create lasting value?
• How can leading institutions balance excellence with adaptability when expanding models of care across diverse health systems?
• What role do workforce development, training, and leadership
• exchange play in scaling highperformance health systems?
• How can data, technology, and AI be leveraged within partnerships to deliver more personalized, efficient, and scalable care?

Panel discussion

In an era of rapid change, hospital CEOs are at the forefront of reshaping healthcare delivery, driving innovation, and ensuring patient-centered care. This panel brings together four top hospital executives to share their insights on navigating challenges such as workforce shortages, financial sustainability, digital transformation, and evolving patient expectations.

Why now?

Hospital CEOs are increasingly leading system-wide transformation as healthcare faces mounting pressures and new opportunities driven by digital innovation, workforce shifts, and evolving patient expectations.

Impact goals

Surface shared strategies for advancing innovation, workforce resilience, and financial stewardship within complex healthcare environments.

Guiding questions:

• How are hospital leaders balancing short-term operational pressures with long-term transformation  goals in today’s evolving healthcare landscape?
• What strategies are proving most effective in responding to workforce shortages and building more resilient, empowered teams?
• How are digital innovation and data integration being leveraged to improve patient outcomes and streamline care delivery?
• In a time of rising costs and shifting reimbursement models, what does financial sustainability look like for leading health systems?

Panel Discussion

AI is transforming healthcare by optimizing diagnosis, treatment, and recovery. From surgical intelligence to patient monitoring and personalized care, AI-driven solutions are improving outcomes and efficiency. This session will explore how hospitals and healthcare providers can effectively integrate AI, address challenges in adoption and accessibility, and ensure seamless implementation in clinical workflows.

Why now?

Studies show AI can reduce diagnostic errors by up to 40% and improve operational efficiency by 20–30% in clinical workflows. AI in the operating room is rapidly advancing, with tools that improve efficiency by up to 30%, reduce complications, and unlock underutilized surgical data—transforming how hospitals enhance safety, performance, and outcomes.

Impact goals

To identify scalable, real-world strategies for integrating AI across healthcare delivery—informing policy, investment, and implementation pathways that enhance clinical efficiency, safety, and patient outcomes.

Guiding questions:

• How is AI currently improving diagnosis, treatment, and recovery in real-world healthcare settings?
• What are the biggest barriers—technical, regulatory, or cultural—to scaling AI in clinical workflows, and how can they be overcome?
• How can healthcare systems ensure AI adoption supports equity, privacy, and patient trust while delivering measurable impact?
• What strategic investments and partnerships are essential for scalable, seamless AI integration across diverse health systems?

Panel discussion

Training AI on large health datasets holds immense potential for driving advancements in personalized care, disease prevention, and medical research. However, the challenge of balancing data access with privacy, security, and trust remains a significant barrier. Developing models that allow for responsible data use while protecting sensitive health information will be crucial in maximizing the social and economic benefits of AI in healthcare. Finding this balance is key to ensuring that public goods are prioritized without compromising data security.

Why now?

The global big data in healthcare market is set to grow from USD 50.74 billion in 2024 to USD 145.42 billion by 2033, at a CAGR of 11.41%. However, trust remains a challenge, with only 44% of people expressing confidence in AI for healthcare. Concerns are particularly high in countries like the United States, France, and Switzerland (about 40%), while countries like China, India, and Mexico show more trust (around 20%).

Impact goals

Enabling leaders to build systems that ensure trust in data to unlock the full potential of AI in health and healthcare while balancing security and public good.

Guiding questions:

• How can healthcare systems ensure secure and ethical access to large health datasets for AI training
• What strategies can be implemented to foster trust between patients, providers, and AI developers regarding data use?
• How can data-sharing models be designed to protect privacy while enabling advancements in healthcare innovation?

Impulse talk

This session explores the evolving field of biohacking and its potential to revolutionize health optimization. From cutting-edge neuroscience and AI-driven biotechnology to personalized interventions, biohacking is pushing the boundaries of human performance, longevity, and well-being. The discussion will highlight the latest innovations, ethical considerations, and the role of emerging technologies in shaping the future of health and self-optimization.

Why now?

Advances in neuroscience, wearable tech, and AI-driven biotechnology are rapidly expanding the frontiers of biohacking—an industry projected to surpass $60 billion by 2028. As individuals increasingly seek to optimize health, cognition, and longevity outside traditional healthcare, 2025 marks a turning point for defining the science, ethics, and accessibility of self-optimization tools.

Impact goals

To explore how emerging biohacking technologies can be responsibly integrated into health systems and personal wellness, guiding stakeholders toward innovation that is ethical, evidence-based, and inclusive.

Guiding questions:

• What are the most promising biohacking innovations currently shaping the future of health optimization
• How can neuroscience, AI, and personalized data be used to safely enhance human performance and well-being?
• What ethical considerations must be addressed as biohacking moves from the fringe to the mainstream?
• How should health systems and regulators engage with the growing consumer demand for self-optimization technologies?

Panel discussion

AI is reshaping the future of drug discovery—from predictive modeling and molecular targeting to clinical trial design and accelerated development timelines. With the open-source release of AlphaFold 3 and continued advancements in machine learning, pharmaceutical innovators are increasingly leveraging AI to identify promising drug candidates, streamline R&D, and tackle complex diseases more efficiently. This panel will bring together leaders applying AI across biotech and pharma to explore emerging targets, evolving platforms, and the real-world impact of AI on drug development today.

Why now? 

AI shows great potential to reduce the cost of introducing a new drug into the market (amounting to USD 1.3 billion on average), one of the most exorbitant health costs. The integration of AI in drug discovery is set to revolutionize pharmaceutical research, with the market projected to surge from USD 1.76 billion in 2024 to USD 13.44 billion by 2035, growing at a compound annual growth rate of 20%.

Impact goals

Enable better and more use of AI for drug discovery by creating shared understanding about the opportunities 
and challenges.

Guiding questions:

• How is AI—particularly tools like AlphaFold 3—reshaping the early stages of drug discovery, from target identification to lead optimization?
• What are the most promising therapeutic areas or disease targets where AI is accelerating 
  breakthroughs?
• How can biotech innovators and pharmaceutical companies collaborate to scale AI-driven models while maintaining scientific rigor and regulatory readiness?
• What are the current limitations of AI in drug discovery, and how can the field address challenges related to data quality, model transparency, and validation?

Panel discussion

AI is increasingly poised to revolutionize personalized healthcare by integrating an individual’s genetic, metabolic, lifestyle, and environmental data. This approach promises to optimize prevention and care, offering tailored strategies that could significantly improve health outcomes and extend longevity. The application of AI in this context has the potential to shift healthcare from a one-size-fits-all model to a more precise, individualized approach, transforming how we prevent, diagnose, and manage health throughout life.

Why now?

Breakthroughs such as AI-powered multi-cancer detection tests, patient digital twins, AlphaFold 3, and wearable health technologies are accelerating the shift from reactive treatment to proactive, personalized prevention—enabling earlier interventions, improved outcomes, and a more efficient, data-driven healthcare system.

Impact goals

Identify most promising AI solutions for personalized health interventions to be scaled.

Guiding questions:

• What are the most promising applications of AI for personalized prevention under development?
• What are the main challenges to scaling the adoption of AI in this space?
• How can healthcare providers work with AI companies and governments to remove roadblocks to adoption?

Panel discussion

Brain implants have demonstrated considerable potential in treating conditions like paralysis and Parkinson's disease, showing promising results in clinical trials. However, the introduction of foreign objects into the brain presents distinct risks, including complications related to infection, rejection, and long-term effects on brain function. As this technology advances, understanding both the therapeutic benefits and the potential dangers will be crucial in shaping its future role in treating neurological disorders.

Why now?

The global brain-computer interface market was projected to reach USD 2.44 billion in 2024, with an expected growth rate of 18.15% CAGR from 2025 to 2030.

Impact goals

Raise awareness among stakeholders about expected breakthroughs in brain-computer interfaces and related challenges to be addressed.

Guiding questions:

• What is next for brain implants and brain-computer interfaces?
• How might they be further miniaturized and what new approaches or materials could offer breakthroughs for safer, long-lasting implants in the brain – and other organs?
• What are the risks and how can they be managed and regulated? 

Panel Discussion

As health threats grow more complex and interconnected, public health leaders are looking beyond traditional data sources to anticipate and respond to crises. Emerging streams—ranging from mobility and environmental data to wearables, social media, and global travel patterns—are opening new possibilities for early detection and real-time intervention. When integrated with AI and advanced analytics, these tools offer powerful insights into population health trends, particularly in resource-limited settings. This session will explore how innovative approaches to data collection and interpretation are reshaping global health intelligence, and what it will take to ensure these advances are equitable, secure, and scalable.

Why now?

In 2024–2025, over 100 countries expanded digital surveillance systems under the WHO Pandemic Accord, backed by funders like CEPI and the World Bank. AI tools, including large language models, now scan 100,000+ sources daily to detect outbreaks, misinformation, and behavioral risks.

Impact goals

To identify the most promising non-traditional data sources and analytic tools that can enhance early warning systems, improve disease forecasting, and strengthen real-time decision-making in public health at a global scale.

Guiding questions:

• Which emerging data sources show the most promise for strengthening public health intelligence and early detection?
• How can AI and advanced analytics be used to translate complex, large-scale data into actionable health insights?
• What are the key challenges—technical, ethical, or institutional—to integrating non-traditional data into public health systems?
• How can collaboration across sectors unlock the full potential of novel data to build more responsive and equitable health systems?

Panel discussion

Wearables and home health technologies are rapidly evolving from fitness trackers to sophisticated clinical tools that enable real-time monitoring, personalized insights, and proactive care. The next generation of connected health devices—powered by AI and advanced computing—promises to extend care beyond traditional settings, transforming how patients manage chronic conditions, recover from illness, and engage with their health. As these tools grow more accurate, interactive, and data-rich, they hold the potential to shift healthcare from reactive treatment to continuous, patient-centered support. This panel will explore the future of clinical-grade wearables, home diagnostics, and digital therapeutics—and how they’re reshaping prevention, care delivery, and the healthcare experience.

Why now?

In 2024–2025, AI-enabled devices are capable of continuously monitoring vital signs, detecting early deterioration, and feeding real-time data into clinical workflows—ushering in a new era of decentralized, personalized care. With global wearable health tech expected to surpass $200 billion by 2028, the time is now to scale these innovations and ensure they’re meaningfully integrated into healthcare systems.

Impact goals

To identify strategic priorities and cross-sector collaboration opportunities that will accelerate the integration of connected health technologies—such as wearables and home diagnostics—into mainstream care, enabling more proactive, personalized, and scalable healthcare delivery models.

Guiding questions:

• How are wearables and home-based health devices transforming clinical monitoring, chronic 
  disease management, and recovery?
• What are the key considerations for integrating real-time patient data into clinical workflows in a  way that supports—not overwhelms—care teams?
• How can industry leaders, biotech innovators, and care providers collaborate to validate, scale, 
  and personalize home health technologies?
• What are the infrastructure, regulatory, and equity challenges in expanding access to connected 
  health—and how can they be addressed?