Summary

On April 29–30, 2019, Tehran University of Medical Sciences (TUMS) hosted the 7th
World Health Summit Regional Meeting on Kish Island, I. R. Iran. Held under the motto, “united together
for global health”, the meeting was organized according to principles of partnership, bringing actors across sectors and around the world together in pursuit of a common,
improved global health agenda in line with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). International collaboration on health issues is crucial, transcending political considerations. Improving health worldwide is relevant not only to SDG3 but plays a role in all SDGs and contributes to improved health worldwide.
From its outset, the World Health Summit has advocated for science to take more responsibility in facilitating a holistic approach to global health. Providing the academic foundation for these efforts is the M8 Alliance of Academic Health Centers, Universities, and National Academies of Medicine and Sciences. Each year, the M8 Alliance members, hold the international president of the World Health Summit, host a Regional Meeting, bringing contributors from around the world together with leading local, national, and regional stakeholders and decisionmakers to address local and international health issues in an environment of academic freedom.