Joint workshop report with the IOM on health system challenges

On 24 March 2014, the Academy of Medical Sciences and the US Institute of Medicine hosted a meeting that asked: ‘How do our health systems respond to evolving challenges?’.

A report of the meeting was published which captures the topics discussed. The meeting was held at the Academy’s headquarters in London, chaired by Professor Harvey V Fineberg MD PhD, President of the IOM, and Professor George Griffin FMedSci, Foreign Secretary of the Academy.

The report focuses on two major themes:

• Demographic transition, chronic diseases and co-morbidities.
• Informed and active citizens in health systems.

With populations ageing in nations across the world, the report explores the healthcare challenges which lie ahead and the need to help people age more healthily. Attendees discussed the role that health system can play in meeting the challenges created by the dramatic increase in those suffering multi-morbidities – two or more chronic conditions, and how citizen and patient involvement in healthcare might contribute to improvements.

An evening dinner was hosted for the Academy and IOM joint Fellows/members, at which the two Presidents signed a memorandum of understanding between the two Academies.