A healthy population is essential for countries to thrive on the global stage. Healthcare has never been more important. Diplomat magazine has produced this Healthcare Report in partnership with the Harley Street Medical Area, which has long been home to some of the great pioneers in medicine. In this report, Diplomat meets with leaders in certain complex fields of medicine, hearing about some of the most exciting innovations, which are sure to change the future of healthcare.

Diplomat magazine has been working with the Harley Street Medical Area on a series of events highlighting the important work they do. For example, creator of the ‘Bionic Eye,’ Professor Lyndon da Cruz, spoke at our event in February.  Our next breakfast event on Friday 23rd June covers the topic ‘Next Generation Healthcare.’ We have two impressive speakers talking on ‘Innovations in Fertility’ and ‘Dementia in Older Adults; and the Autism Spectrum in Children/ADHD in Adolescents and Younger Adults.’ Whether you are a healthcare or science attaché, Head of Mission or diplomat with a personal interest in medicine, you are all welcome.

It has been a busy month for Diplomat – we hosted the Tata Diplomat of the Year Awards at Jumeirah Carlton Tower. Congratulations to all our winners! But more about that in the next issue. The event was hosted by Diplomat’s newest contributor, BBC Diplomatic Correspondent, James Landale. He’s written an honest account of how as a diplomat, there are few places better than London to be posted right now! He says governments need their eyes and ears more open on the streets of London than ever before.

But as you all know, diplomacy is not all about hard politics. The Cyprus High Commissioner says that music can act as a “common language, an agent of solidarity, peace, tolerance and exchange, which can unite peoples of every

origin, language and religion.” The same can be said of literature. Ambassador of Senegal, also one of the world’s leading academics on Shakespeare, provides Diplomat with a contribution inspired by his visit to the opening of Shakespeare’s Place, a beautiful new garden located on the site of The Bard’s home when he died. As the Cyprus High Commissioner said, these ‘soft’ diplomatic tools, “are very much needed in our troubled and dangerous world.”

As always, Diplomat reviews the Credentials of new heads of mission to the Court of St James’s, this month meeting the Ambassadors of the Philippines, Swaziland and Sweden, along with the High Commissioner for the Seychelles.

In the lifestyle section, Diplomat enjoys an overnight stay in Belgravia institution COMO The Halkin, and exquisite Spanish tapas at Barrafina Drury Lane. Readers with a taste for culture will find valuable advice in our book and arts reviews, including the moving exhibition by Carmignac Photojournalism Award winner, Narciso Contreras, on his experiences of human trafficking in Libya.

Finally, I always want to hear from you, our readers, on article suggestions, new appointments, local news and other embassy events that you would like covered. Please contact me on

vvk@diplomatmagazine.com