The international network HDC – Health Dialogue Culture (formerly known as MDC – Medicine Dialogue Communion) promotes a Congress in Sao Paulo, Brazil from 7 to September 10, 2017 entitled: Promoting Global Health: strategies and actions on the individual and collective level

Rationale of Congress:

Nowadays, it is accepted that biochemistry and genetics are not enough for an insightful understanding of health and illness. Both personal and sociocultural context should be taken into account and underpinned. As health contributes remarkably to economic growth and social well-being, the determinants of health should be considered as strategic. Health systems, then, have to look at patients in their wholeness and to respect their complexities and experiences. The relationships between health professionals and health managers and between them and users of health services are key elements of the healthcare system. Spiritual dimension too cannot be ignored and can have a substantial influence on quality of life, satisfaction and outcomes of personal health. The Congress aims to focus on those aspects in the endeavour of better understanding them and to share experiences and good practices.