The World Innovation Summit for Health (WISH) has announced that an Accountable Care Forum will be held during its 2016 conference, taking place on November 29-30 in Doha. 
The forum will outline the benefits of using an integrated accountable care system to assist patients suffering from chronic diseases, such as diabetes, and who require rigorous, all-encompassing treatment plans. 
It will also delve into the scope of implementing an accountable healthcare plan, including the identification of a suitable cohort in Qatar for a pilot study, involving a pool of people aged 18 and older who have been diagnosed with type-2 diabetes or pre-diabetes, and those who are at high risk of developing the disease. 
Professor Mark McClellan of Duke University, who will chair the forum, said: “In India, models like SughaVazhvu Healthcare are using patient subscriptions, not fee-for-service payment, to finance innovative models for preventing chronic diseases. In Spain, Ribera Salud is accountable for results and total costs for a population of patients across the continuum of care, and this payment model provides financial support for new ways of co-ordinating care and preventing complications.” 
“In Qatar, local leaders have come together in an accountable care model to prevent diabetes and its complications. This year’s forum will look at how policymakers can promote health innovation in their own communities through accountable care.”
Conference participants will receive detailed action plans and recommendations, including the process of identifying the above mentioned cohort; the singling out of individuals within the group who suffer from diabetes; a screening plan for the remaining subjects; the development of a care pathway; the establishment of a multi-disciplinary team to manage patient care; and finally, individualised healthcare plans and project monitoring. 
Six months after the study has commenced, a formal stocktake will be announced, followed by a discussion of potentially extending the pilot study to additional populations and areas, depending on the success of the research.
The Brookings Institution and Qatar Diabetes Association (QDA) will have representatives at the forum to provide their unique analysis and advice on this critical topic. Participants will also debate the objectives of the pilot, discussing the formation of a localised integrated strategy using available resources to ensure an efficient long-term healthcare plan for the patients. For example, at-risk individuals will be screened and identified via data analysis and receive individualised healthcare plans outlining a wellness strategy for a pre-diabetes phase. 
Additionally, the forum will illustrate how cohort data shared in a single registry will replace fragmented lists of diabetes patients. It will further define the pathways between primary, secondary, and tertiary care to guarantee consistency throughout treatment.
The forum will also serve as a platform to examine the potential for Qatar to lead the global community in the development of the healthcare services sector to ensure the prevention of chronic disease complications by way of tailor-made care. 
Egbert Schillings, CEO of WISH, said: “For WISH this is more than a report, it is testament to the programme’s contribution to the local health economy. Working with our partners at the Ministry of Public Health, Hamad Medical Corporation, and Primary Health Care Corporation, we convened local stakeholders and international experts to help transform the way diabetes care is delivered in Qatar. It is also a best practice example of embracing innovation and adapting it to the local context.” 
WISH, a global initiative of Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development (QF), is a meeting point for thousands of high-level policymakers, academics, and professionals. It has also evolved into a key platform for the dissemination of healthcare innovation and best practices. 
The WISH 2016 Summit will feature seven ground-breaking research forums that highlight and address some of the world’s most pressing healthcare challenges. In addition to Accountable Care, the forums will generate interdisciplinary, evidence-based reports on topics including Healthy Populations, Precision Medicine, Economic Benefits of Investing in Health, Cardiovascular Disease, Autism, and Behavioural Insights. Internationally-renowned experts will chair the forums. For the first time, WISH will also report on its ongoing impact locally and globally on issues previously highlighted at the conference, such as diabetes and patient safety.
The summit will feature innovation showcases from around the world that are shaping the design, delivery, and financing of care, as well as a cohort of young innovators; emerging healthcare leaders under the age of 30, whose contributions to global health deserve wider recognition.