The Geneva Forum: Towards Global Access to Health brings together on an equal basis all actors involved in access to health – including international, national and local organizations; government agencies; the private sector; hospitals; universities; civil society; and most importantly those who need care. It provides an interactive and dynamic platform for critical reflexion on the complexity of global access to health.
Under the flags of equity, partnership, and capacity building, it strives to link policies and guidelines to actual practice in the field. Combining scientific rigour and powerful testimonies, the Geneva Health Forum aims to provide integrated approaches and responses to global health challenges. Geneva, headquarters of numerous international organizations active in the health sector, provides a unique environment for this event.

This second edition of the Geneva Health Forum will maintain the broad range of themes considered as priorities: access to health systems; health and inequities; access to drugs, vaccines and diagnosis; civil society and social issues in health; and capacity building and partnerships.
The Geneva Health Forum 2008 places special emphasis on the strengthening and integration of
health systems and the importance of the global health workforce. The year 2008, the 30th anniversary of the Alma Ata Declaration, offers a special occasion to revisit the primary health care model within the current health services context, marked by the increasing burden of chronic diseases and HIV/AIDS, the potential of new drugs and technologies, and the growing role of the private sector and global health initiatives.
Health systems cannot be addressed without a critical look at the current crisis of the global health workforce. The Forum will focus on key initiatives and best practices that address issues such as motivation, working environment, migration, and gaps in competencies. The role that universities, hospitals, and training institutions can play in this domain will be reviewed in light of innovative partnerships and programmes.

Important Dates 15 January 2008 final date for abstract submission 1 March 2008 final date for reduced registration fees Call for Abstracts Abstracts must be submitted on-line: www.genevahealthforum.org Forum Secretariat Geneva Health Forum Department of Community Medicine and Primary Care, HUG Tel.: +41 22 3729658 or +41 22 3729672 Fax: +41 22 3729626 E-mail: info.genevahealthforum@hcuge.ch Conference Location International Conference Centre Geneva 17 rue de Varembé 1211 Geneva 20 Switzerland Official Language The official conference language is English. French translations are available for plenary sessions. For complete information and updates www.genevahealthforum.org Marketplace, sponsoring, advertisement E-mail: gabrielle.landry@hcuge.ch