Welcome to the Globalization and Health Systems group. This community is meant to create a space to foster exchanges around health systems, globalization and the building of universal health care services.

Being a permanent space of discussions, it is linked to Geneva Health Forum, an international forum held every two years. Please click on GHF10 to access the 2010 edition which will be held from 19 to 21 April. This platform will allow those interested to follow up on the discussions held during the forum. It will also be used during the preparatory phase of the forum, to facilitate collaboration among all the various contributors. Several online discussions related to the main theme will be hosted and will contribute to shape the programme of the third edition of the Geneva Health Forum conference which will be held in Geneva in April 2010.

In order to obtain a critical mass of field experience and perspectives, we encourage you to invite all those you know who work or have worked in the field and who have experiences to share. (To invite people to join the discussion, click on the left ‘invite members’.)

Our first discussion will be held from 15 February to 5 March 2010.

"Antimicrobial resistance: should the development of new antibiotics be a public health priority?"

Joining the debate are the following:

• Carlos F. Amábile-Cuevas, Fundación Lusara, Mexico
• Stephan Harbarth, Geneva University Hospitals, Switzerland
• Andreas Heddini, ReAct, Sweden
• Po-Ren Hsueh, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taiwan, ROC
• Samuel Kariuki, Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI), Kenya
• Rachel Nugent, Center for Global Development, USA
• John H. Powers, National Institutes of Health, USA (as moderator)
• Anibal Sosa, Alliance for the Prudent Use of Antibiotics (APUA), USA
• Kevin Outterson, Boston University School of Law, USA

Spread of resistant pneumococcus first identified in Spain
Source: K. Klugmann, South African Institute of Medical Research