The Fifth Global Forum on Humanitarian Medicine in Cardiology and Cardiac Surgery was held in Geneva from June 4 to 6, 2009 at the Geneva University Hospital. As in 2003, 2005 and 2007 the humanitarian Association “Hearts for All” has organised the Global Forum in partnership with Geneva University Hospital, World Heart Foundation and the support of the World Health Organisation. The focus of this forum is to encourage a platform to demonstrate innovative humanitarian efforts in healthcare, with particular emphasis on the importance of the cardiac team to achieve sustainability and quality improvement in adverse conditions, thus improving outcomes.

 The Global Forum is also organised with the aim to continue to address key issues facing numerous developing countries including the shortage of financial, material and human resources, which are often aggravated by adverse economic conditions and loss of trained personnel towards richer countries, as well as, problems due to shortage of technology and lack of education.

 We are pleased and privileged to have been awarded the honor of conducting the 6th Global Forum on Humanitarian Medicine in Cardiology and Cardiac Surgery along with the 20th WSCTS World Congress from 20th to 23rd October, 2010. The forthcoming Global Forum will aim to open a dialogue among different international partners to gather better knowledge concerning the needs of the countries in our region, and target available economic, technical and human resources in order to consolidate and coordinate these efforts in the most cost-effective and best sustainable manner.

 We believe that the time has come to reflect on past failures and achievements with the challenge to create a strong partnership among us all and to build a successful collaboration for the future. For this reason, international specialists in the area of humanitarian and cardiovascular medicine have been invited, as well as, representatives from international non-governmental organizations working in the area in order to further share their ideas and experience.

By coming together, we are sure to find the best solutions for better health and improved quality of life for the poorer populations of the world. The theme of the 6th Global Forum will be on Pediatric Cardiac Care in the South Asian region.