The International Forum is jointly organised by the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) and the BMJ Publishing Group Ltd. The Forum has as its mission to support the movement for health care improvement. It aims to improve outcomes for patients and communities, provide practical ideas that can be implemented in the workplace, promote research into quality and safety improvement, foster effective innovation, and connect health care leaders and practitioners worldwide.

Sophia Schlette of the International Network Health Policy and Reform, who co-chaired the Forum's local advisory group, organized a preconference session on the German Healthcare System for international conference participants. Together with colleagues from Denmark and Spain she further gave a presentation of the Bellagio model of population-oriented primary care.