Peking University, May 18, 2014: Chinese health issues, as well as global health issues, have been an increasingly important concern. This year, Beijing Global Health Forum provided an opportunity to find more solutions.

Jointly organized by the National School of Development of Peking University, WHO China and Columbia Global Center of East Asia, Beijing Global Health Forum of SDSN (The UN Sustainable Development Solution Network) took place in Peking University on May 13th.

Scholars and experts from different countries, delegates of international institutions in China, related officials of Chinese government and stuff of Peking University attended the forum for the discussion of theglobal sustainable development and human health.

Professor Ke Yang, executive vice president of PKU and executive vice director of PKU Health Science Center, delivered the opening speech. She emphasized three major problems in the process of Chinese medical reform, including the construction of general medical insurance system, the role of public hospitals and the treatment of medical staff.

Ke Yang

Academician Chen Zhu, vice chairman of China’s NPC Standing Committee, chairman of the Chinese Peasants' and Workers' Democratic Party, delivered the first keynote speech on the topic of Chinese medical reform and national strategy on health, which provided a general picture of China’s sustainable development plans on health care.

Chen Zhu

The following speech by Dr. Guido Schmidt-Traub, SDSN executive director, offered a detailed introduction about the agenda of SDSN as well as its plan and goal on global health.

Emphasizing on effective collaborations among countries, Dr. Jeffrey Sachs, renowned economist and director of SDSN, believed that the health care of people around the world depended upon the progress of environmental protection, economical development, and a common understanding of international politics.

Jeffrey Sachs

Based on the subjects of the three speeches, scholars and experts carried on a heated discussion about the urgent problems in the promoting process of global health and offered advices on policies and strategies.

Background Info:

SDSN is a special initiative started by Secretary General of the United Nations, and its promotion was entrusted to Professor Jeffrey Sachs, special advisor of SDSN and director of the Earth Institute at Columbia University.

Founded in September 2012, the organization aims at converging global scientific technology and knowledge to face the challenges of the sustainable development. According to the types of crucial worldwide issues, SDSN sets up 12 topic groups, including the group about human health.

Written by: Jin Panzhu
Edited by:Li Wenrui
Source: National School of Development