Washington, D.C., May 4, 2009
—IFC, a member of the World Bank Group and the world’s largest multilateral investor in the private health sector in emerging markets, is helping client companies expand access to health services, improve standards of quality and efficiency, and facilitate the international exchange of best practice in health care in developing countries.
Using its private health experience – unique among multilateral institutions – IFC has established itself as a center for networking and information among investors worldwide. It will hold its third international health conference in Washington, D.C., from May 6 through May 8.
The conference,
Managing in Good Times and Bad
, will bring together experts from private health care, government, academia, insurance, and financing to explore the future of private health care in developing countries and the changes taking place in the wake of the global financial crisis. Participants will look at different approaches being used to raise standards, improve efficiency, and drive growth.
More than 125 participants from over 20 countries are expected to attend. Panel discussions and presentations by leading analysts and practitioners will provide information for decision-makers on competing in the global marketplace.
Speakers will include Lars Thunell, IFC Executive Vice President and CEO; Juan Enriquez, Chairman and CEO, Biotechonomy; Sebastian Mallaby, Senior Fellow for International Economics, Council on Foreign Relations; and chief executives of leading health-care companies from emerging and developed markets. Guy Ellena, IFC Health and Education Director, will chair the conference.
“The IFC conference is taking place at a time when the private health sector in emerging markets is experiencing unprecedented expansion,” Thunell said. “Faced with rising demand for more and better services, many governments are embracing private participation as a means of increasing access and expanding health service delivery.”
About IFC
IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, creates opportunity for people to escape poverty and improve their lives. We foster sustainable economic growth in developing countries by supporting private sector development, mobilizing private capital, and providing advisory and risk mitigation services to businesses and governments. Our new investments totaled $16.2 billion in fiscal 2008, a 34 percent increase over the previous year. For more information, visit
www.ifc.org
.
NOTE TO EDITORS
:
For media accreditation or to attend, please call 202-473-7700 or e-mail:
ljoseph@ifc.org
. Prior registration is necessary. Non-media queries should be directed to 202-473-4274, e-mail:
Healthconference@ifc.org
.
