Minister of Health, Kim Wilson, represented Bermuda at the World Government Summit (WGS) held in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE) from February 11 – 14, 2024. 

The WGS hosted 25 heads of state and 200 ministers, and visionaries including Sam Altman (Open AI) and Jensen Huang (Nvidia). During her visit to WGS, Minister Wilson was able to connect with the UAE’s Minister of Health H.E. Abdul Rahman Al Owais. 

Several discussions centered around the role of health and healthcare, including whether recent technological innovations contribute to resilience, or create new vulnerabilities. 

“Bermuda and the UAE face common challenges in our healthcare systems, including rising levels of non-communicable diseases like diabetes and cancer, as well as the growing strains on our healthcare systems from ageing populations,” said Minister Wilson.

“Bermuda's strategy to combat these includes broadening healthcare accessibility, improving preventative care, and prioritising data analytics, a path the UAE has pioneered with its advanced digital health services.

“With the UAE and Bermuda striving to deliver efficient, accessible, and patient-centred care for our populations, this cross-continental dialogue will hopefully spark collaborations that enhance health outcomes and sustainability. As Bermuda and the UAE chart our respective healthcare futures, our shared challenges and opportunities pave the way for a collaborative journey towards better health for all.”

Minister Wilson met with the Minister of Health from the Seychelles H E Peggy Vidot, where they shared the similar health learnings and experiences as Small Island States. She also joined a roundtable with eight Nobel Prize Laureates discussing scientific discovery and applications.

Minister Wilson concluded: “What resonated with me during our discussions at the Summit was the central idea that urges the global community to foster collaboration across various sectors and embrace innovative approaches in tackling health challenges. The ultimate call is to redirect our attention from healthcare to health, recognising that the responsibility for health is unquestionably a collective effort transcending borders and sectors.

Bermuda was invited to attend the World Governments Summit because of the Premier’s in person engagement with the UAE’s Ministry of Cabinet Affairs during his COP28 visit to the UAE, and the closer relationship developed between the two countries over the past year. The Government of the UAE covered the cost of the visit for the Hon. Minister Wilson and her Permanent Secretary Aideen Ratteray-Pryse. 

Photos are attached and Minister Wilson’s video report on the World Governments Summit is available here: https://we.tl/t-4UiKZtC0yT

About the World Governments Summit

The World Governments Summit Organization is a global, neutral, non-profit organisation dedicated to shaping the future of governments. The Summit, in its various activities, explores the agenda of the next generation of governments, focusing on harnessing innovation and technology to solve universal challenges facing humanity.

Since its inception in 2013, the Summit has championed the mission of shaping future governments and creating a better future for humanity. The past editions of the Summit have successfully established a new model to collaborate on an international playing field to inspire and enable the next generation of governments.