The Bioethics Advisory Committee (BAC), together with the Ministry of Health (MOH), hosted the 8^th Global Summit of National Bioethics Advisory Bodies in Singapore on 26 and 27 July 2010. The main motive for hosting the 8^th Global Summit was our belief that in a globalised world, ethical engagement of this kind is necessary to enable a concerted response to ethical challenges from biomedical science and technology. The local organising committee worked closely with the Ethics and Health team of the World Health Organization (WHO), which provides the permanent secretariat for the Global Summit in developing the programme.

 
A series of four newsletters that served as updates on preparations for the 8^th Global Summit, and which offered national ethics bodies a chance to influence the emerging programme, were sent to these bodies during an eighteen-month period before the Global Summit.

 
This meeting brought together 55 representatives from national ethics bodies in 33 countries, as well as delegates representing the WHO, the Council of Europe, and the European Commission. The local organisers have prepared a brief report on the 8^th Global Summit, which includes the final programme.

 
Global Summit Venue: Suntec Singapore International Convention & Exhibition Centre

Welcome Dinner Venue: Arts House (Singapore’s former Parliament House)

 
Organising Committee:

Mr Richard Magnus (Chairman), BAC Member
Dr Arthur Chern, Group Director (Health Regulation), MOH
Dr Chew Suok Kai, Deputy Director of Medical Services (Health Services Group), MOH
Mr Nazirudin Bin Mohd Nasir, BAC Member 
Prof Ng Soon Chye, BAC Member
Ms Pauline Tan, Chief Nursing Officer, MOH

 
Local Secretariat:
(Email: contactus@bioethics-singapore.org)

BAC Secretariat
Ms Charmaine Chan
A/Prof John Elliott
Mr Calvin Ho
Dr Sylvia Lim

MOH
Ms Soon Swee Sung
Dr Mona Toh

 
The 9^th Global Summit of National Bioethics Advisory Bodies has been scheduled for October 2010 in Tunis, Tunisia. The BAC will work closely with the Tunisian host and the WHO to ensure continuing success of the Global Summit meetings.