BCS SPECIALIST GROUP ON AI (BCS-SGAI) AI for Health 2026 - Nov. 6th

Friday November 6th 2026 (all day event)

A special event showcasing the role of Artificial Intelligence for Health
Organised by BCS-SGAI

At the BCS London Office
Ground Floor, 25 Copthall Avenue, London, EC2R 7BP (near Moorgate underground)

Please see: https://www.bcs-sgai.org/health2026/

 

There are is an online registration form available from the event website.

BCS-SGAI, the British Computer Society Specialist Group on Artificial Intelligence was founded in June 1980. Its mission is: `To foster achievement, capability and awareness in both business and research in Artificial Intelligence, and to promote the interests of the related community`. It is one of Europe`s longest established groups working to support the community of artificial intelligence developers and users and is the organiser of one of the longest running annual series of AI conferences in Europe: the AI-20xx series.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO) prioritising AI for health is crucial. The WHO also highlights that a healthy diet protects you against many chronic non-communicable diseases, such as heart disease, diabetes and cancer. Quantum computing is gathering an enormous interest as a new paradigm of computing (see Quantum for Good at https://quantumforgood.eu/), which is already making an impact across industries like health and life sciences (agriculture, food and health). Classical (or current) AI relies in classical computers based on binary bits (zeros and ones), while quantum AI relies in quantum computers based on quantum bits (qubits). Quantum AI could dramatically accelerate research that requires processing vast amounts of data, contributing to human health by accelerating drug discovery or enabling earlier diagnostics. Quantum AI could be also instrumental in identifying early signs of crop diseases or optimising water use.

Come along to AI for Health 2026 if you are interested in cutting-edge AI for Health, using latest technologies with a promise of high impact.

SPEAKERS

 

Prof Brendan Delaney (Imperial College London)

 Medical diagnosis after LLMs

 

Mr Anirban Lahiri (Arndit Ltd. and Kainos Ltd., United Kingdom)

 AI in Mental Healthcare

 

Dr Marinos Ioannides (Head of Software and AI Medical Devices, MHRA, UK)

 Demystifying AI Regulation

 

Dr. Mercedes Arguello Casteleiro (SGAI)

 Hands-on Tutorial on Low-Code AI Agents for Health, Farming, and Food

 

Dr Oliver Thomson Brown (Quantum Software Lab, EPCC, University of Edinburgh)

 Introduction to Quantum Computing and its Relevance for Biomedical Science

 

Dr Saihong Li (University of Stirling)

 Translating Quantum Food Futures

 

Dr Aleksey Kozikov (Newcastle University)

 Emerging Opportunities for Quantum Technologies in Food and Health

 

Website: https://www.bcs-sgai.org/health2026/

 

Registration: https://www.bcs-sgai.org/health2026/?section=registration

World Patient Safety Day 2026

World Patient Safety Day calls for global solidarity and concerted action by all countries and international partners to improve patient safety.

The Day brings together patients, families, caregivers, communities, health workers, health care leaders and policy-makers to show their commitment to patient safety.

The resolution WHA 72.6 ‘Global action on patient safety’ recognizes patient safety as a global health priority and endorses the establishment of World Patient Safety Day to be observed annually on 17 September. ...

Source:  https://www.who.int/campaigns/world-patient-safety-day

WHO’s Self-Care Month (June 24th – July 24th) and International Self-Care Day July 24th

 

The Global Self-Care Federation (GSCF) is putting the spotlight on the benefits of self-care ahead of and beyond WHO’s Self-Care Month (June 24th – July 24th) and International Self-Care Day July 24th – two key annual advocacy milestones. 
 
GSCF’s 2022 International Self-Care Day campaign builds on the #SelfCarePromise theme, encouraging everyone to make and share their personal commitment to embrace a specific self-care action. This year, we are specifically focusing on the topic of resilience.  

Self-care is any action that an individual takes to look after their own health, based on the knowledge and information available to them. This practice can also occur in collaboration with healthcare professionals when needed. Actively managing your own health and well-being through self-care has numerous benefits, including better choice between healthcare options, better care for individual wellbeing and better value for governments and health systems worldwide.

Continued ... 

individual

|
INTERPERSONAL : SCIENCES             

humanistic ------------------------------- mechanistic

SOCIOLOGY : POLITICAL   

|

group

SELF-CARE Mental health  self-care & wellbeing Individual Health literacy (- and other literacies!) Self Advocacy	Physical self-care Personal resilience Evidence-based interventions Disease prevention Diagnostics, Drugs, Devices,  Integrated into Care
Health Promotion & Education Community Empowerment Community Resilience Community Advocacy Social cohesion Rehabilitation, Recovery & Reablement	Knowledge & Information Access Learning opportunities   Universal Health Coverage Approp. Policy frameworks Improved care outcomes Advocacy representation WHO and agencies

See also:WHO - Self-care for health and well-being

'Health - Illness': Status - presence - absence - Being

A pre-charity shop revisit: 

'So long as we are healthy, we do not notice that we are healthy. Health is one of those phenomena that we do not perceive as anything special because they are a part of everyday life. We discover them by their absence. Only illness enables us to see health as health. That I am healthy, and in what way I am healthy, is something I experience when, and to the extent that, I am or was not healthy, or when I perceive (but this it is difficult to do) that, and to what extent, someone else is or was not healthy. Being healthy is not the only 'being' that escapes our gaze precisely by being, and that appears to us by its absence. One could say the same of being as such.' p.257.

von Weizsäcker, Carl Friedrich (1971 [1980 trans.]). Einheit der Natur [The Unity of Nature] New York: Farrar Straus Giroux.

If we are to demonstrate ('prove') that Hodges' model can be applied, is relevant in:

• illness, disease, trauma (physical and mental);
• health and well-being; 
• human development, ageing, pregnancy;
• social care; 
• preventive medicine, health promotion, health education;
• life sciences, bioengineering; 
• public (community and mental) health;
• self care;
• spiritual health;
• and global - planetary (political) health ...

Then these observations by Friedrich, allied with definitions of health, as per the WHO's Constitution:

'Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.'
https://www.who.int/about/governance/constitution

The oft cited (when I was a student nurse) definition of nursing by Virginia Henderson:

“Assisting the individual, sick or well, in the performance of those activities contributing to health or its recovery (or to peaceful death) that an individual would perform unaided if he had the necessary strength, will or knowledge”.
https://libguides.twu.edu/c.php?g=270174&p=1803121

We need to 'see' beyond these sources, to take in the global situation. But, being situated this is something Hodges' model is ideally equipped to achieve.

Webinar [18th] Maternal Mortality and the impact of health system stability

Dear IBP Network Colleagues,

Please see the webinar happening this week!

Maternal deaths are increasingly concentrated in humanitarian and fragile settings. This webinar will present key findings, aligned with the latest maternal mortality ratio data published in 2025.

🌍 Speakers from HRP and WHO will discuss trends, data gaps and implications for policy and programmes, with country case studies from Myanmar, Haiti, Papua New Guinea and Ukraine, as well as perspectives from UNFPA.

🧭 The session will explore how health system stability can help protect maternal health amid conflict, fragility and crisis.

The session will be in English with French interpretation

Register Here:
https://bit.ly/4kAKloC

 

My source: 

Nandita Thatte, DrPH

Department of Sexual and Reproductive Health

World Health Organization

Geneva, Switzerland

Email: thatten AT who.int

ibpnetwork.org

Invitation to EPI-WIN webinar: 1 Dec, on UNiTE to end digital violence ...

... why digital safety is a gender and public health imperative in emergencies

UNiTE to end digital violence:
why digital safety is a gender and public
health imperative in emergencies

We are delighted to invite you to join our webinar on #UNiTE to end digital violence, on 1 December 2025, 13.00 CET (geneva time), with Ms Reem Alsalem, UN Special Rapporteur for violence against women, its causes and consequences, Dr Stella Chungong, Director and Chair of the WHO Health Emergencies Gender Working Group, and voices of community experiences.  

Please do join the discussion and share widely.

Title: UNiTE to end digital violence: why digital safety is a gender and public health imperative in emergencies

Time and Date: 13:00 – 14:30 CET (Geneva), Monday, 1 December 2025

Registration: https://bit.ly/4prKGeu

Webpage: WHO EPI-WIN webinar: UNiTE to end digital violence: why digital safety is a gender and public health imperative in emergencies

Digital violence, such as doxxing, deepfakes, and online harassment, poses significant public health risks. Millions of women, girls, and adolescents face harassment, stalking, and threats in digital spaces meant for connection.

In crisis settings, these digital threats create multiple challenges. Understand what they are and why it is important to integrate digital safety into humanitarian health responses.

Tentative Agenda and Speakers

Welcome/Opening remarks: Digital safety as a public health imperative in crises:  Dr Stella Chungong, Director, Department of Health Emergency Preparedness & Chair, WHE Gender Working Group

Preparedness begins with protection: why digital violence must be addressed in humanitarian health work: Dr Stella Chungong, Director, Department of Health Emergency Preparedness & Chair, WHE Gender Working Group

UNFPA perspective from Executive Director, UNFPA: delivered by Dr Eugene Kongyuy, Deputy Director of Humanitarian Response Division to represent the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).

Keynote address: Ms Reem Alsalem, UN Special Rapporteur for Violence Against Women, its causes and consequences

Risk communication, community engagement and infodemic management: digital violence as a driver of misinformation: Dr Kai Von Harbou, Unit Head, Community Protection & Resilience, WHO 

Surviving Digital Violence: DR Millie Phiri, journalist, researcher and author on digital violence

Community Voice:  Ms Sohaila Shamseldeen, Youth and Development Coordinator, Etijah

Maguire et al. - 'A systematic scoping review of the noma evidence landscape: current knowledge and gaps'

Abstract

Background Noma (cancrum oris) is a severe gangrenous disease of the mouth and oro-facial structures. Noma often affects young children living in extreme poverty, malnutrition and poor sanitation. Gaps remain in understanding its aetiology, pathogenesis, prevention and treatment.

Methods and findings We systematically searched databases for all primary research studies (clinical trials, cohort studies, case–control, cross-sectional, other observational studies, case studies/series) reporting noma patients of any age up to 7 December 2022. The 366 publications (published between 1839 and 2022) included in our scoping review describe 15 082 patients. Although 53 cohort and 29 cross-sectional studies were identified, enrolling 13 489 patients, interventional research remains extremely limited, with only six studies identified (101 patients, range: 7–26) and only one in the past decade, highlighting a critical gap in treatment evaluation. A total of 380 different treatment modalities were described, which underscores lack of a standardised practice. Disease aetiology remains unclear, with 117 microorganisms reported across 113 studies, yet none more consistently linked to noma development. Since 2000, 91.2% of cases have been reported in Sub-Saharan Africa, though occurrences outside the ‘noma belt’ and into Asia and the Americas suggest a broader risk. The 212 potential risk factors identified in 269 (73.5%) publications reflect substantial heterogeneity, complicating efforts to determine definitive causative factors. Additionally, the inconsistent definition and reporting of noma staging significantly hinder comparability across studies, with wide adoption of the WHO staging classification needed.

Conclusion This comprehensive review of the literature underscores the urgent need for robust, policy-driven research to address the vast knowledge gaps in the physiopathology of noma and the limited evidence currently available to guide therapeutic and preventive policies. Collective action and increased research investment are crucial, especially now that noma is officially recognised as a neglected tropical disease by the WHO.

Brittany J Maguire, Rujan Shrestha, Prabin Dahal, Roland Ngu, Lionel Nizigama, Sumayyah Rashan, Poojan Shrestha, Elinor Harriss, Paul Newton, Yuka Makino, Benoit Varenne, Philippe J Guerin - Systematic scoping review of the noma evidence landscape: current knowledge and gaps: BMJ Global Health 2025;10:e018023 https://gh.bmj.com/content/10/7/e018023

Individual

|

      INTERPERSONAL    :     SCIENCES               

HUMANISTIC  --------------------------------------  MECHANISTIC      

 SOCIOLOGY  :    POLITICAL 

|

Group

PSYCHOLOGICAL IMPACT mental & emotional complications WITHDRAWAL LOST EDUCATION & LIFE CHANCES DEPRESSION PSYCHO-	malnutrition and poor sanitation PHYSICAL IMPACT LIMITED EVIDENCE - DISEASE KNOWLEDGE GAPS - AETIOLOGY  knowledge gaps in the physiopathology of noma
-SOCIAL MANAGEMENT SOCIAL IMPACT - LIFE CHANCES STIGMA SOCIAL EXCLUSION	extreme poverty, infrastructure NEED FOR POLICY-DRIVEN RESEARCH THERAPEUTIC - PREVENTIVE POLICIES RECOGNITION

Previously: 'neglected' : 'noma'

My source: https://x.com/benoit_varenne/status/1950955812915982487

Health Policy Watch: WHO’s Big Push to Integrate Traditional Medicine into Global Healthcare Framework

This is quite a development for the lived experience of all individuals, global health and for Hodges' model. Not only for Hodges' model as a universal framework (template) and model for / of care, but the capacity of Hodges' model to conceptually and culturally encompass all data, information, knowledge and wisdom.

c/o HIFA list:

Full text: https://healthpolicy-watch.news/whos-big-push-to-integrate-traditional-medicine-into-global-healthcare-framework/

'The World Health Assembly delivered a landmark victory for traditional medicine and indigenous cultures Monday evening, approving a strategy that calls for increased investment in research and integrating ancient healing practices into modern healthcare systems worldwide.

'The approval marks a breakthrough moment for advocates of traditional medicine, with nations across Asia, Africa, the Middle East and Latin America celebrating the decision. Iran called it “a visionary yet realistic roadmap” to integrate thousands of years of medical like its own.

'But the strategy text shows WHO walking a careful tightrope, embracing practices that represent “accumulated wisdom and healing practices passed down through generations” while demanding they meet modern scientific evidence standards that could take decades to satisfy...'

Best wishes, Neil

HIFA profile: Neil Pakenham-Walsh is coordinator of HIFA (Healthcare Information For All), a global health community that brings all stakeholders together around the shared goal of universal access to reliable healthcare information.

See also: 'Oceania' : 'indigenous' : 'ancient' : 'map' : 'nature'

'International Nurse's Day' 2025 #2 - c/o ICN & WHO

State of the World’s Nursing Report 2025

State of the World’s Nursing

Report 2025

'As the world’s nurses celebrate International Nurses Day (IND), ICN issues a rallying cry to governments around the globe for urgent nursing support, following the launch of the second World Health Organization (WHO) State of the World’s Nursing (SOWN) report.

The SOWN report is a vital assessment of the global nursing workforce in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic and underscores the urgent need for bold investments in nursing to address shortages, strengthen health systems, and promote global resilience and economic stability.

The SOWN report reflects ICN’s IND 2025 report, Caring for nurses strengthens economies, and related Survey of National Nurses' Association (NNA) Presidents, reinforcing the central role of nurses in achieving global health, including Universal Health Coverage (UHC), and calling for immediate action to address long-standing challenges. The SOWN data presents a mixed picture. It highlights progress in areas such as advanced practice and nursing leadership, but indicates gravely concerning continued workforce shortages, inadequate compensation and working conditions, poor mental health support, inequities in the distribution and employment of nurses, and failures to fully enable nurses as practitioners and health care leaders.'

Continued ...

Caring for nurses strengthens economies

Caring for nurses
strengthens economies

'As we face growing health care challenges, from ageing populations and rising chronic diseases to climate-related emergencies and deepening global inequalities, the need for a strong, sustainable nursing workforce has never been greater. We cannot meet these challenges without sufficient nurses who are themselves well-cared for and supported. ICN’s International Nurses Day report reveals the severity of our current nursing shortage and well-being crisis – and the path forward. ICN’s “Caring for Nurses Agenda” provides a comprehensive roadmap for creating environments where nurses, patients, and entire health care systems can flourish.'

Source: ICN

Webinar: 8 April Humanizing Health Care Through Relationality -

Exploring The Science And Practice Of Community Engagement

Join us for the first of four webinars co-hosted by the WHO Department of Integrated Health Services (IHS) and the Global Health Partnerships (GHP) (formerly THET). This webinar series is based on a new policy report launched at the World Innovation Summit for Health (WISH) -

https://wish.org.qa/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Relationality-in-Community-Engagement.pdf 

The report revisits foundational concepts of community and examines how a deeper understanding of the relational nature of community engagement can contribute to improving quality of health care and transforming health systems. The webinar series hopes to inspire a shared understanding of community engagement’s transformative potential and how it can be leveraged for people-led change.

Continued ...

 Previously: relational :: community :: scale

Book list: Global health c/o Madhu Pai, MD, PhD

Way back in 2023 on twitter c/o Madhu Pai, MD, PhD, I learned of a listing of books on global health:

The list is updated quarterly -

https://microbiologycommunity.nature.com/posts/41300-if-you-had-to-read-one-book-on-global-health 

Here are four titles - and of course now the list is even richer!

Individual

|

     INTERPERSONAL    :     SCIENCES               

HUMANISTIC --------------------------------------  MECHANISTIC      

SOCIOLOGY  :   POLITICAL 

|

Group

Unheard	METRICS
ONE by ONE by ONE	The Psychosis of Whiteness

Book images:

https://www.hachette.co.uk/titles/rageshri-dhairyawan/unheard/9781398718708/

https://www.dukeupress.edu/metrics

https://www.harpercollins.com/products/one-by-one-by-one-aaron-berkowitz?variant=32280902205474

(If you search harpercollins you will find the book.)

https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/316675/the-psychosis-of-whiteness-by-andrews-kehinde/9780141992389

My source - with thanks:
https://x.com/h2cm/status/1716119076513173573?s=20

Twitter? Yes, I know; don't we all?

WHO online survey on maternal well-being framework - ENG, FR and SPA translations available

 ------- ENGLISH ------

Dear colleague,

You are invited to participate in the development of the World Health Organization (WHO) maternal well-being framework through an online survey. 

This consultation is one step in a broader process led by the WHO Department of Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health and Ageing (MCA) towards creating a comprehensive framework that supports maternal well-being across diverse environments and cultures. Based on the results of a scoping review of the literature and an expert consultation held in May 2023, a preliminary framework has been developed including a definition, domains and subdomains. WHO/MCA is now organizing multiple consultations which objectives are listed below. 

What is the purpose of the survey?

• Ensure comprehensive coverage of all critical elements of the framework and identify potential gaps in the definition, domains and framework of maternal well-being.
• Evaluate the framework’s applicability across various settings and cultures.
• Foster collective agreement and consensus among key stakeholders.

Who can take part to this survey?

Any individual or organization who has interest in maternal health and well-being. This includes, but is not limited to:

• Representatives of women's groups
• Health workers (midwives, OBGYN, nurses, neonatal nurses, paediatricians, psychiatrists, psychologists, community health workers...)
• Experts in human and sexual and reproductive rights, public health, health promotion, gender, mental health, economics, humanitarian, etc.
• Academics and researchers 
• Government organizations
• National civil society organizations / NGOs
• International agencies / UN agencies
• Private sector

How to participate in this survey?

Please click on the following link: Survey Link

We expect this survey will not take longer than 15 minutes to complete. It is available in English. 

The survey will be open until 17 August 2024. 

We would be grateful for your response to this survey and your kind help in circulating to your colleagues and networks.

Please reach out to Justine Le Lez - lejus AT who.int with any further questions. 

Best regards,

On the behalf of the Department of Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health and Ageing (WHO/MCA)

------- FRENCH / FRANCAIS ------

 

Bonjour,

Vous êtes invité·e à participer à l'élaboration du cadre conceptuel du bien-être maternel de l'Organisation mondiale de la santé (OMS). 

Cette enquête est une étape d'un processus plus large dirigé par le Département de la santé maternelle, néonatale, infantile et de l'adolescent et du vieillissement (MCA) de l'OMS, visant à créer un cadre conceptuel exhaustif soutenant le bien-être maternel dans divers environnements et cultures.

Sur la base des résultats d’une revue de la littérature et d’une consultation d’experts tenue en mai 2023, un cadre conceptuel préliminaire a été élaboré, comprenant une définition, des domaines et sous-domaines. L’OMS/MCA organise actuellement plusieurs consultations, dont les objectifs sont énumérés ci-dessous.

Quel est l’objectif de l’enquête ? 

• Assurer une couverture exhaustive et identifier d'éventuelles lacunes dans le cadre actuellement proposé.
• Évaluer l'applicabilité universelle et l'adaptation du cadre conceptuel à divers contextes et cultures.
• Favoriser un consensus collectif afin que le cadre conceptuel reflète reflètent une large gamme de perspectives et d'idées

Qui peut participer à cette enquête ? 

Toute personne ou organisation intéressée par la santé maternelle et le bien-être. Cela inclut, sans s’y limiter :

• Des représentants de groupes de femmes

• Des professionnels de santé (sages-femmes, gynécologues-obstétriciens, infirmières, infirmières puéricultrices, pédiatres, psychiatres, psychologues, agents de santé communautaires…)

• Des experts en droits humains, droits sexuels et reproductifs, santé publique, promotion de la santé, genre, santé mentale, économie, santé humanitaire, etc.
• Des universitaires et chercheurs
• Des organismes gouvernementaux
• Des organisations nationales de la société civile / des ONG
• Des agences internationales / agences des Nations unies
• Le secteur privé

Comment participer à cette enquête ? 

Veuillez cliquer sur le lien suivant : Lien vers l’enquête

Nous estimons que cette enquête ne prendra pas plus de 15 minutes à compléter.  

L’enquête sera ouverte jusqu’au 25 août 2024.

Nous vous serions reconnaissants de bien vouloir y répondre et de la diffuser auprès de vos collègues et réseaux.

Pour toute question, n'hésitez pas à contacter Justine Le Lez.

 

Cordialement,

Au nom du Département de la santé maternelle, néonatale, infantile et des adolescents et du vieillissement (OMS/MCA)

 

------- SPANISH / ESPANOL -----

Está invitado a participar en la elaboración del marco conceptual del bienestar materno de la Organización Mundial de la Salud (OMS). 

Se le invita a participar en el desarrollo del marco de bienestar materno de la Organización Mundial de la Salud (OMS). Esta encuesta es un paso en un proceso más amplio liderado por el Departamento de Salud Materna, del Recién Nacido, del Niño, del Adolescente y del Envejecimiento (MCA) de la OMS hacia la creación de un marco integral que apoye el bienestar materno en diversos entornos y culturas.

Con base en los resultados de una revisión de la literatura y una consulta de expertos realizada en 2023, se ha desarrollado un marco preliminar que incluye una definición, dominios y subdominios del bienestar materno.  La OMS/MCA está organizando actualmente varias consultas, cuyos objetivos se enumeran a continuación. 

 

¿Cuál es el objetivo de la encuesta? 

· Garantizar una cobertura exhaustiva e identificar posibles brechas en el marco propuesto actualmente. 

· Evaluar la aplicabilidad universal y la adaptación del marco conceptual a diversos contextos y culturas. 

· Fomentar un acuerdo colectivo para que el marco conceptual refleje una amplia gama de perspectivas e conocimientos. 

¿Quién puede participar en esta encuesta? 

 

Cualquier persona u organización interesada en la salud materna y el bienestar. Esto incluye, sin limitarse a: 

·  Representantes de grupos de mujeres

· Profesionales de la salud: matronas (parteras profesionales/obstetras/obstetricias/comadronas), ginecólogos-obstetras, enfermeras, enfermeras pediátricas, pediatras, psiquiatras, psicólogos, agentes de salud comunitarios…

· Expertos en derechos humanos, derechos sexuales y reproductivos, salud pública, promoción de la salud, género, salud mental, economía, salud humanitaria, etc.

· Académicos e investigadores

· Organismos gubernamentales

· Organizaciones nacionales de la sociedad civil / ONGs

· Agencias internacionales / agencias de las Naciones Unidas

·  El sector privado

¿Cómo participar en esta encuesta?

 Por favor, haga clic en el siguiente enlace: enlace a la encuesta

Estimamos que esta encuesta no tomará más de 15 minutos para completar. 

La encuesta estará abierta hasta el 25 de agosto de 2024.

Le agradeceríamos que respondiera y difundiera la encuesta entre sus colegas y redes.

Para cualquier pregunta, no dude en ponerse en contacto con Justine Le Lez.

 

Atentamente, 

En nombre del Departamento de Salud Materna, Neonatal, Infantil y del Adolescente y del Envejecimiento (OMS/MCA)