The Sixth Global Symposium on Health Systems Research (HSR2020) will take place in the Eastern Mediterranean Region in Dubai and will welcome around 2,000 delegates over five days from 8th to the 12th November 2020.

The winning bid was put forward by the Mohammed bin Rashid School of Government, Dubai, in partnership with the United Arab Emirates, and in close collaboration with the American University of Beirut (AUB), through its Knowledge to Policy (K2P) Center at the Faculty of Health Sciences, Lebanon.  

“We are delighted to be named as host partners for the Sixth Global Symposium on Health Systems Research in a region where strengthening and advancing health policy and systems research (HPSR) and contributing to achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) for health is much needed” said His Excellency Dr Ali Sebaa Al Marri, Executive President, Mohammed bin Rashid School of Government. “We look forward to convening policymakers, researchers and practitioners from around the world to exchange ideas and learning in our dynamic global city. This is an important opportunity to engage with institutions in the Eastern Mediterranean region involved in HPSR and policymaking, and to bring them together as we prepare for this event in 2020” said Dr Immanuel Azaad Moonesar RD, Assistant Professor of Health Policy, Mohammed bin Rashid School of Government.

Strengthening HPSR and enhancing its translation into policy and action in the Eastern Mediterranean Region has been repeatedly emphasized over the years. The news that we will be bringing the Global Symposium to the Eastern Mediterranean region (EMR) in 2020 is an important and exciting moment for the HPSR community in general and the EMR in particular” said Dr Fadi El-Jardali, Professor of Health Policy and Systems and Founding Director of K2P Center at AUB. “It will provide a crucial catalyzing platform for awareness, capacity, support and partnerships within and beyond the EMR. Importantly, it will serve as a stepping stone to evidence-informed health policymaking in the EMR, building bridges across ‘intellectually distant’ regions, and ensuring individuals, communities and institutions contribute to and benefit from joining a growing global HPSR community. We are excited to play an active role in shaping this much needed momentum that will be transformative for the EMR”.

Dr George Gotsadze, Executive Director, Health Systems Global (HSG), congratulated the Mohammed bin Rashid School of Government and the American University of Beirut on behalf of the HSG Board, which is made up of key researchers and experts from across the globe. “We are looking forward to working closely with the Mohammed bin Rashid School of Government, AUB, and their regional partners over the next two and a half years to prepare for this global gathering in this extremely important region for HSG. HSG and partners have learnt a great deal from hosting a number of global symposia. We will draw on this experience to deliver a successful Sixth Symposium in Dubai."

Dr Lucy Gilson, Professor of Health Policy and Systems, University of Cape Town, who chaired the selection committee for HSR2020, said: “The successful bid is headed by an exciting blend of established and emerging regional leadership for HPSR. It strongly reflects HSG’s desire to grow engagement, support and capacity for HPSR in the EMR.”

HSG is an international membership organisation fully dedicated to promoting health systems research and knowledge translation. HSG’s Fifth Global Symposium (HSR2018) – Advancing Health Systems for All in the SDG Era – will take place in Liverpool, UK, from 8th to 12th October 2018.

News Announcement on Health Systems Global website : Eastern Mediterranean Region to Host the Sixth Global Symposium on Health Systems Research in 2020