A call for abstracts has now been announced, with the deadline for applications set for 30 April 2010. Further information is available at http://hsr-symposium.org.

This first symposium is dedicated to improving the scientific evidence needed by health policy-makers and practitioners to inform their decisions related to accelerating universal health coverage.

Its specific objectives are to:-

• share state-of-the art research on universal health coverage;

• develop a global agenda of priority research on accelerating progress towards universal health coverage;

• facilitate greater research collaboration and learning communities across disciplines, sectors, initiatives and countries;

• strengthen the scientific rigor of the field of health systems research including concepts, frameworks, measures and methods;

• identify mechanisms for strengthening capacities – individual, institutional and infrastructural – for research on health systems particularly in low- and middle-income countries.

The Global Forum for Health Research is honoured to be a founding partner and involved with the WHO-based Symposium Secretariat, which works towards the planning and preparation of the event.