As global health governance continues to evolve amid shifting geopolitical dynamics, changing financing landscapes and the lasting impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, CSEP and the United Nations University International Institute for Global Health (UNU-IIGH) convened a panel discussion to examine the future of regional and global health governance in South and Southeast Asia.
The event opened with remarks from Revati Phalkey, Director of UNU-IIGH, and Laveesh Bhandari, President of CSEP, followed by a scene-setting address by David McCoy, Research Lead at UNU-IIGH. The discussion featured presentations on research conducted by CSEP and UNU. Dian Maria Blandina who examined the changing global health governance landscape, and Nadine Monteiro, who presented findings on strengthening regional health governance platforms in South and Southeast Asia.
The presentations were followed by an expert panel moderated by David McCoy, featuring Rabindra Abeyasinghe (WHO Country Office to Malaysia, Brunei Darussalam and Singapore), Nurhafiza Md Hamzah (Former Minister Counsellor (Health), Permanent Mission of Malaysia to the United Nations and Other International Organizations), and Palitha Gunarathna Mahipala (Former Secretary to the Ministry of Health, Sri Lanka).
The panelists reflected on the opportunities and challenges for strengthening regional cooperation, enhancing collective health security, and amplifying the role of South and Southeast Asia in shaping the future of global health governance.
