CARE FOR THE WORLD – Symposium at MEDINFO 2013, Thursday 22nd August, Copenhagen, Denmark
Thomas Karopka
Dear all,
It is a great pleasure for me to announce the „Care for the World”-symposium with the title: Collaboration, Openness, transparency and trust as prerequisite for high quality, effective and efficient health care” to be hold at MEDINFO 2013 in Copenhagen, Denmark.
In this symposium we will present and discuss different approaches to tackle the global challenges in health care. The main argument is that collaboration, openness, transparency and trust are the most powerful ingredients to develop high quality, sustainable solutions and maximize the impact that these tools might have in improving health outcomes. Two different but related approaches will be presented: The use of Free/Libre Open Source Software and Open User Driven Innovation.
This mini-symposium is collaboratively organized by IMIA OS WG, EFMI LIFOSS WG, GNUSolidario, International Institute for Global Health of the United NationsUniversity (UNU-IIGH), MedFLOSS.orghttp://www.medfloss.org and the EU project ScanBalt HealthPort
Abstract and Objective
While the Global South still struggles to reach the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) the health systems of the Global North are under pressure due to an aging population and life style related diseases. Three years before the deadline at the end of 2015 the world has met some important targets while others remain to be seen. In this mini-symposium two different but related methodologies will be presented that are regarded by the authors as the most powerful principles to provide high-quality, efficient and effective health care in a global context. These two methodologies are the use of Free/Libre and Open Source Software (FLOSS) and Open & User Driven Innovation. The chosen best practice examples represent a Global South and a Global North perspective and will highlight the potential of combining these approaches and are intended to induce a process of mutual learning and exchange of experience among Global South/Global North as well as different communities and different parts of the world.
Best regards,
Thomas
EFMI LIFOSS WG chair
IMIA OS WG chair