Bridging the Health Divide: Political Courage to Invest
📅 6–7 March 2026 | 📍 Manila Marriott Hotel, Philippines

On 6 and 7 March 2026, UNITE – Parliamentarians Network for Global Health will convene its flagship UNITE Global Summit at the Manila Marriott Hotel.

Bringing together parliamentarians, policymakers and global health leaders, the summit will serve as a high-level platform to address today’s most urgent health challenges and shape political priorities for the years ahead 🌍.

Under the theme “Bridging the Health Divide: Political Courage to Invest,” participants will confront widening inequalities in health equity and access. Against a backdrop of intersecting global crises and strained health systems, the summit highlights political leadership and sustainable public financing as critical investments in resilient and inclusive healthcare systems 💡🏥.

🌍 WASH NTDs away! | 19 February | 10:30–11:45 CET

How can water, sanitation and hygiene accelerate the prevention and elimination of neglected tropical diseases (NTDs)?

Join this technical exchange hosted by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit GmbH Sector Programmes One Health and InnoBlue, featuring project insights from Uganda and Myanmar. We are proud that our Global Health Hub Germany Snakebite Envenoming Community will contribute to this exchange.
The event aims to share practical insights and raise awareness of the importance of the NTD–WASH nexus for prevention and elimination.

💧 NTDs affect around 20% of the world’s population. Strengthening WASH systems is essential to preventing 18 of the 21 NTDs and advancing health equity.

👉 Join the webinar here: https://lnkd.in/dinDwKXf

Join: https://teams.microsoft.com/meet/39681312009670?p=xapReNlzv0PtzljLHi

Meeting ID: 396 813 120 096 70

Passcode: ae24Xn6r

Designing the Human? AI Between Progress and Responsibility

On 25 February (10:00–16:00), the 11th Transfer Conference “eHealth & Society” will explore a provocative question: What happens when the human being becomes a design object?

Under the title “Designobjekt Mensch”, the conference examines how artificial intelligence, medical innovation, and digital technologies are reshaping concepts of health, identity, and self-determination. From AI-assisted diagnostics and robotic surgery to social media filters, virtual avatars, longevity trends, and personalized medicine, the boundaries between enhancement, optimization, and societal pressure are increasingly blurred. 🌐✨

Bringing together experts from medicine, computer science, public health, ethics, sociology, psychology, and social work, the event will critically discuss both the opportunities and ethical dilemmas of digital transformation in healthcare. The concept of the “Augmented Doctor” will be explored alongside pressing questions: Who designs whom? Does AI empower human agency — or redefine norms and expectations?

With new institutional partners and high-level public patronage, this year’s conference promises an interdisciplinary and forward-looking dialogue on how technological innovation can be aligned with social responsibility. ⚖️🏥

Register until 20 February 2026

Location: Munich and online 

On 12 March (10:00–13:30) in Berlin, the German Health Alliance (GHA) will host a dialogue on strengthening women’s health. 🩺🌍

The event will bring together stakeholders from policy, academia, and the private sector to explore opportunities for collaboration and define concrete next steps for joint action. A special highlight will be the contribution of the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO). Professor Dr. Frank Louwen, FIGO President (2025–2027), will share insights into FIGO’s global programs and outline how partnerships, innovative projects, and research initiatives can actively advance women’s health worldwide.

The program will also feature the presentation of the “Berlin Roadmap Women’s Health”, a joint initiative by Charité, UNFPA, and GHA. The roadmap sets out strategic goals and recommendations to foster stronger cross-sector collaboration.

An interactive session will invite participants to exchange perspectives, identify cooperation opportunities, and shape tangible next steps for impact.

Register here: Dialog über Perspektiven zur Stärkung der Frauengesundheit | 12 März | Berlin – GHA – German Health Alliance

🌍 Advancing Care for Neglected Tropical Diseases

📅 26 February 2026 | 📍 Campus Virchow Klinikum, Berlin

On 26 February 2026, colleagues from Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin and the Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative (DNDi) will come together for an afternoon dedicated to advancing care for patients affected by neglected tropical diseases (NTDs).

Under the theme “From Discovery to Delivery”, this scientific exchange will connect clinicians, researchers, and global health professionals to explore how collaboration between academia and product development partnerships can translate research into real-world impact.

The program features expert insights on DNDi’s achievements in research and development, updates on sleeping sickness elimination, long-term care for chronic Chagas disease, and recent progress in tungiasis control. 🎓🧪

The event is open to clinicians, researchers, students, and all professionals interested in global health, tropical medicine, and infectious diseases. It will conclude with an informal networking session to foster interdisciplinary exchange and future collaboration. 🤝

Registration is open until 24 February 2026.

📅 6 February 2026, on the International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), Women in Global Health is convening a global webinar to advance the conversation on what it will truly take to end FGM—through sustained commitment, investment, and women’s leadership. 

 🌍 Under the theme “Towards 2030: No End to FGM Without Sustained Commitment and Investment,” the webinar The Power to Lead: Women Advancing the Elimination of Female Genital Mutilation will spotlight the leadership of women and girls, particularly those at risk of or affected by FGM. The discussion will explore the role of health systems and providers, as well as the vital contributions of women’s rights and feminist movements in driving gender-transformative change. 

 💬 The event will also reflect on how to sustain progress amid growing backlash, fragility, and humanitarian challenges. 

 🕒 Time: 12:00–13:30 UTC 
📍 Location: Virtual (Zoom) 

👉 Register here: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_OSQkcZ0GRAWDz70qzG4HSg 

Dear Global Health & Migration Community Members (GHHG),

Please save the date for our regular community meeting on May 20, from 15:00 to 16:00 (Berlin time).

The meeting will take place via BigBlueButton: https://webinare.e-collaboration.eu/b/rooms/quy-4tp-alp-s0p/join

PW: nw6jwp 

Agenda: Details TBC

Warm regards,

Sonu, Henna & Zahra

for the Global Health and Migration Community, Global Health Hub Germany

The event calendar for 2026: 

🌍📚 GLOHRA Academy Series – Primary Health Care in Global Perspective

On 3 February 2026 (4:00–5:00 PM), the GLOHRA Academy Series, organised in cooperation with Amref Health Africa (Germany), welcomes Prof. Dr. Walter Bruchhausen (University of Bonn) as guest speaker.

In his talk, “The long history of Primary Health Care between North and South, East and West,” Prof. Bruchhausen will explore how ideas of primary health care have emerged, travelled, and been reinterpreted across regions and political systems over time. Drawing on perspectives from global health history, ethics, and medical anthropology, the session highlights the value of interdisciplinary and international approaches to global health research.

The event features a 30-minute presentation followed by a 30-minute interactive Q&A, encouraging open academic exchange and discussion 💬✨.
As part of the GLOHRA Academy Series, held every first Tuesday of the month, the session focuses not only on research findings but also on research processes, methods, and lessons learned.

📍 Online via Zoom
🗓 03 February 2026 | 4:00–5:00 PM
📝 Registration: https://uni-bonn.zoom-x.de/meeting/register/41dg2aKRSTqIb_hRBFVk8g

AMR Cost in Germany – a modeling-based discussion on the economic impact of antimicrobial resistance. While data availability is limited in Germany, this session will provide valuable insights and implications of the costs of AMR in Germany.

Speaker:

Christian Willy, MD, PhD, is a Colonel and Professor of Surgery specializing in trauma, orthopedic, and reconstructive surgery in Berlin.

He served as Clinical Director at the Military Academic Hospital Berlin and leads the Research and Treatment Center for Complex Combat Injuries.

His scientific work focuses on wound healing, antiseptic concepts, and phage therapy, where he is actively involved.

With extensive international experience through fellowships and military deployments in regions such as Bosnia, Afghanistan, and Djibouti, he brings a global perspective to his practice and research.

________________________________________________________________________________

Microsoft Teams Benötigen Sie Hilfe?

Jetzt an der Besprechung teilnehmen

Besprechungs-ID: 250 360 879 235 02

Passcode: vz3t8be3

Phage Therapy – exploring innovative approaches and current developments & challenges in this promising field.

Speaker:

Christian Willy, MD, PhD, is a Colonel and Professor of Surgery specializing in trauma, orthopedic, and reconstructive surgery in Berlin.

He served as Clinical Director at the Military Academic Hospital Berlin and leads the Research and Treatment Center for Complex Combat Injuries.

His scientific work focuses on wound healing, antiseptic concepts, and phage therapy, where he is actively involved.

With extensive international experience through fellowships and military deployments in regions such as Bosnia, Afghanistan, and Djibouti, he brings a global perspective to his practice and research.

Microsoft Teams Benötigen Sie Hilfe?

Jetzt an der Besprechung teilnehmen

Besprechungs-ID: 244 663 585 323 46

Passcode: XY2Jn36F

Dear Climate Change and Health Community,

We cordially invite you to our first community meeting of 2026 on 22 January at 1 p.m.

We will host the presentation of the Special Focus Issue GAIA 35/4 (2025) “Planetary Health and social-ecological research in the Anthropocene”, which is available on:  https://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/oekom/gaia/2025/00000034/00000004

Planetary Health, One Health, and Social Ecology converge yet differ in linking human wellbeing with ecological systems. Particularly Planetary Health includes an intrinsic political dimension to enable a societal transformation of human civilisation. The Special Focus highlights critical reflections on theory, methods and applications of Planetary Health.

Please register under:  https://fau.zoom-x.de/meeting/register/5XHfm-QeRKO0wlcvLWxOqg As always, after registration you will receive a confirmation E-mail.

We are looking forward to seeing you.

Jennyfer, Donald, Klaus and the Hub Management Team 

Charité Forum on Methods in Health Services Research: Generative AI in Qualitative Research 🤖📊💬

To strengthen methodological expertise and scientific exchange, the Charité Platform for Health Services Research hosts the Charité Forum on Methods in Health Services Research. The next virtual session will take place on 22 January 2026, from 4:00–5:30 PM (CET) and will focus on “Generative AI in Qualitative Health Services Research – Methodological Foundations and Practical Applications.”

The session will feature a methodological introduction and applied research examples by Prof. Dr. Uwe Krähnke (MSB Medical School Berlin) and Dr. Thorsten Dresing & Thorsten Pehl (audiotranskription, dr. dresing & pehl GmbH). Designed as an interactive event, the forum will combine expert input with real-world examples, followed by open discussion and informal exchange in plenary and/or small groups.

🗓️ Registration is required by 19 January 2026 to receive access details.

🏥 Spreestadt Forum & Berlin Hospital Seminar – Winter Semester 2025/26

The Spreestadt Forum and Berlin Hospital Seminar is an interdisciplinary lecture series on healthcare in Europe, bringing together perspectives from health economics, medicine, and health policy. Scientifically led by Prof. Reinhard Busse, Prof. Thomas Kersting, and Prof. Thomas Henke (TU Berlin), the series takes place every semester and is open to students and professionals alike.

In the Winter Semester 2025/26, the program focuses on current reforms and challenges in the German and European healthcare systems. Topics include Level 1i clinics and regional health centers, integrated care for chronic diseases, cross-state hospital planning between Berlin and Brandenburg, implementation of hospital reform laws, the practical use of AI in healthcare, and the financial situation of statutory health and long-term care insurance.

📅 Next lecture:
January 19, 2026, at 6:15 pm (CET)
🎤 Michael Zaske (Ministry of Health and Social Affairs, Brandenburg) & Helge Franz (Berlin Senate Administration)
🧩 Topic: Cross-state hospital planning in light of service groups, minimum case numbers, and retention payments

The event is held in hybrid format, free of charge, and no registration is required. Participants are warmly invited to join the discussion—on site or online.

Lecture: Digital Health – Innovative Research Projects (IT Acceptance in Health Care) | University of Bonn | 22 January 2026

💻 Event overview:
As part of the Winter Semester 2025/26 lecture series “Digital Health: Innovative Research Projects”, this session focuses on the acceptance of information technology in health care. Digital health applications—from prescription apps to digital monitoring—are already part of everyday practice, but their success depends on whether patients and health professionals actually use them.

🎯 Topic & content:
The lecture explores the key factors influencing the adoption and acceptance of digital health technologies, drawing on current research findings and practical examples. It highlights both the opportunities and challenges of digital transformation in the health sector and discusses what is needed to promote real-world uptake.

👩‍🏫 Speakers:

• Rainer Beckers, M.A., ZTG Center for Telematics and Telemedicine GmbH
• Prof. Dr. Julia Krönung, Professor of Business Administration (Socio-Technical Information Systems), FernUniversität in Hagen

🕒 Date & time: 22 January 2026, 18:00
📍 Location: Campus Bonn, Gotenstraße 161, 53175 Bonn
💻 Format: On-site and online via Zoom
🎟️ Participation: Free of charge, registration required (for on-site or online attendance)

🔎 A valuable session for anyone interested in digital health, health IT adoption and user-centred innovation in health care.

🌍 Spreestadt Forum & Berlin Hospital Seminar on Health Care in Europe | TU Berlin | Winter Semester 2025/26

The Spreestadt Forum and Berlin Hospital Seminar is a free, interdisciplinary lecture series on health care in Europe, jointly organised by TU Berlin and academically led by Prof. Reinhard Busse, Prof. Thomas Kersting and Prof. Henrik Henke. Held every semester, the series brings together perspectives from health economics, medicine and health policy and is open to students and professionals alike.

📚 Winter Semester 2025/26 focus:
This semester’s programme addresses key current reforms and debates in the German and European health system, including:

• New care models such as “Level 1i” clinics and regional health centres
• The future potential of integrated care, especially for people with chronic diseases
• Cross-state hospital planning (Berlin–Brandenburg)
• Implementation of hospital reform legislation (KHVVG, KHAG) through models and simulations
• Practical applications of artificial intelligence in health care 🤖
• The financial challenges facing statutory health and long-term care insurance 💶

🗣️ Format & participation:

• Hybrid format (on-site in Berlin + online livestream)
• In-person attendees are welcome to enjoy snacks and drinks 🥨
• No registration required, participation is free of charge
• Open discussion and exchange are central to the series

📌 Next lecture:

• Date & time: Monday, 12 January 2026, 18:15
• Speaker: Prof. Dr. jur. Thomas Schlegel (Frankfurt)
• Topic: “The untapped potential of integrated care – how sectoral separation in the German Social Code (SGB V) hinders care for chronically ill patients”

🌍 Webinar: Institutionalizing Community Health Programs through Strategic Purchasing 🩺

On Thursday, 15 January 2026, global health leaders, policymakers and practitioners will come together for a 90-minute interactive webinar exploring how community health worker (CHW) programs can be sustainably integrated into national health systems through effective purchasing and financing mechanisms.

📌 Building on the Bangkok Call to Action, the session will examine how strategic purchasing can support the long-term institutionalization and performance of CHW programs—strengthening primary health care, building trust in fragile settings, and improving health outcomes.

🌍 Country experiences from Kenya and Burkina Faso will be highlighted, alongside a powerful first-hand perspective from a Community Health Worker champion from Kenya. The discussion will be complemented by a high-level panel and audience Q&A.

🗣️ Language: English, with simultaneous French interpretation
💬 Format: Interactive webinar with live Q&A
🕒 Time: 8:00 New York // 13:00 London / Ouagadougou // 14:00 Geneva // 16:00 Nairobi

👥 Speakers & contributors include: UNICEF, Financing Alliance for Health, Ministries of Health (Kenya & Burkina Faso), the Global Financing Facility, The Global Fund, and community health representatives.

✨ A must-attend session for anyone interested in community health, health financing, and primary health care systems strengthening

📢 Save the Date | 2nd PHC Congress
🗓 4–6 March 2026

🌍 Redesigning Primary Health Care: Building Resilience Amidst Global Uncertainty

The 2nd PHC Congress will convene global and regional stakeholders to explore how Primary Health Care can be reimagined to meet today’s escalating challenges—including pandemics, climate change, economic shocks, conflict, and widening health inequities. As Africa stands at a critical crossroads, the congress will focus on transforming PHC to be more resilient, inclusive, digitally enabled, future-focused, and deeply rooted in communities, as a cornerstone for achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC) 🤝🏥.

🦠 Update on “5 BY 25”: Progress, Challenges and Next Steps in Countering AMR

GARDP will host a live webinar reflecting on the “5 BY 25” initiative, launched in 2019 with the ambitious goal of developing five new antibiotic treatments between 2020 and 2025. The session will highlight key achievements, lessons learned, and remaining challenges, while outlining how GARDP is building on this progress to advance sustainable, public health–driven antibiotic R&D and access 🌍💊.

The webinar will feature insights from leading experts Anand Anandkumar (Bugworks), Manica Balasegaram (GARDP), Glenda Gray (SAMRC), and David Paterson (ADVANCE-ID), and will be moderated by Herman Goossens (University of Antwerp).

📅 15 January 2026 | 12:00–13:00 CET
💬 Live broadcast with interactive Q&A