Forty-five papers were presented in two separate streams at the recent IFHE International Congress in Tokyo, where the keynote address was give by a key World Health Organisation (WHO) figure with the daunting responsibility for a budget of $130 billion covering 1.8 billion people in 37 countries, IHEEM’s IFHE representative Andy Wavell reports.
The varied topics covered ranged from “How can robots help wayfinding in healthcare facilities” to “Full-scale scale shaking table tests for assessment of functionality in medical facilities during an earthquake”. The 2010 International Congress was held from 17-18 November at Tokyo’s “Big Sight”, with IHEEM represented by Ronnie Browne and Andy Wavell. After the official opening, by President of the Healthcare Engineering Association of Japan, Hisashi Ohmichi, the keynote, by Shin Young-Soo, regional director for the Western Pacific at the World Health Organisation, highlighted the WHO’s work in tackling hunger, ill health, lack of clean water, and poverty. In total there were Congress speakers from 17 countries, including IHEEM members Harry Waugh and David Whiteley. The associated exhibition featured mostly local exhibitors, complemented by a few overseas companies. New IFHE President Yasushi Nagasawa had organised a stand to show hospital projects from around the world, with the UK represented by Portsmouth’s Queen Alexandra Hospital. The writer is indebted to the assistance received from the hospital’s director of development, Glen Hewlett, in providing the information and images sent to Japan. While Congress delegates enjoyed the technical papers, the organisers provided a “welcome reception” for all, a programme for accompanying partners, who were taken on a day trip around some of Tokyo’s most interesting sites, and a closing function held in a Japanese Onsen, or “hot spring”, where delegates could take a bath “Japanesestyle”, and enjoy local entertainment. Having enjoyed some time in Japan before the Congress, my lasting memories will be of a country that prides itself on service, and where the transport system runs exactly to time, and is very easy to use, even for foreigners. The food was also wonderful, and we received an amazing welcome wherever we stayed.
