GHF 2008 Speeches

2008

Dreifuss, Ruth. 2008. Chacun contribue à renforcer les systèmes de santé. Opening statement by Ruth Dreifuss, Former Federal Counsellor and President of the Swiss Confederation, presented in The Geneva Forum: Towards Global Access to Health, 27 May 2008.

Il y a trente ans, un homme exceptionnel a démontré l'importance de focaliser les politiques de santé sur les besoins de la majorité de l'humanité. Il a également montré la nécessité de les décloisonner. Sous le leadership de Halfdan Mahler, l'OMS a reconnu le rôle essentiel que jouent ceux qui n'étaient, jusqu'à présent, que des figurants (des figurants-patients) ou des empêcheurs de moderniser les soins : les citoyens et les citoyennes, le personnel médical le plus modeste, les guérisseurs traditionnels jusque là largement ignorés ou méprisés... read more...

Mahler, Halfdan. 2008. The first mile: setting the framework for effective community health systems (videoconference with the Global Health Council, Washington D.C.). Opening statement by Dr Halfdan Mahler, Former Director General of the World Health Organization, presented in The Geneva Forum: Towards Global Access to Health, 27 May 2008.

The famous physicist, Nils Bohr, often employed a truism when he tried to take the students with him behind the scientific curtain of the quantum theory. This truism went something like this : "The universe is only complete for those who see it in a complete light. It remains fragmented for those who see it in a fragmented light". The parallel between this truism and my mini-comments on today's theme is that health has to be seen not only internally as an integrated whole, but also externally as an integral component of overall social and economic development.... read more...

2006

Robinson, Mary. 2006. Access to Health: A Right for All? Speech presented in The Geneva Forum: Towards Global Access to Health, 30 August 2006.

Kellenberger, Jakob. 2006. Access to health care for victims of armed conflicts. Keynote address by Dr Jakob Kellenberger, President of the International Committee of the Red Cross, presented in The Geneva Forum: Towards Global Access to Health, 30 August 2006.

Calmy-Rey, Micheline. 2006. International development and access to health. Opening remarks by Federal Councillor Micheline Calmy-Rey presented in The Geneva Forum: Towards Global Access to Health, 30 August 2006.