10.05.2021 - 13.05.2021 | Online

Lost in pandemic?

The pulse of global health in times of SARS-CoV-2. Policy dialogues ahead of the 74th World Health Assembly, 10-13 May 2021, organized and hosted by the Geneva Global Health Hub (G2H2)

Over one year after the outbreak of the Covid-19, the world remains dominated by the pandemic. As does the political space: the application of a “Covid-19” lens to core fields of global health presents opportunities, building on a new interest for health and an emerging syndemic view of the crisis, as well as on a common sense of urgency. However, in the current fragmentation of health governance,  it also displays significant risks of deepening inequality and perpetuating exploitation.

The emergency management of the pandemic, with its failures and contradictions, puts us at risk of an instrumentalization of Covid-19 to further justify the health security agenda and accelerate the securitization of public health. Exclusive focus on vaccines and the prolonged fight against the disease  in the face of new viral waves and variants – have already distanced the discussion from addressing the systemic root-causes of the disease: the failures of national and global governance which prioritise marketization and financialisation, and roll back public services delivery. Ultimately, the triple Covid-19 crisis – a social and economic, as well as a health pandemic – cannot be dissociated from the  pathogenetic drivers of globalization, with their unsustainable policies and distorted governance paradigms.

Ahead of the 74th World Health Assembly, this series of public meetings aims to bridge the main political elements of the WHA agenda with civil society perspectives on Covid-19 related processes that demand specific attention, assessment and action.  All in all, we will diagnose and debate the state of global health in times of the pandemic and provide a space for encouraging those who promote substantial change.

  • Languages/interpretation (availability to be confirmed): English – French – Spanish 

 

Programme

The Pandemic treaty proposal: Seeking accountability after the disaster?
Monday, 10 May 2021, 15.00-16.30 hrs CEST

Claiming  a dignified and universal approach for vaccination: Covid-19 realities of people on the move 
Tuesday, 11 May 2021, 15.00-16.30 hrs CEST

Beyond state control and corporate power: An alternative digitalization of public health
Wednesday, 12 May 2021, 14.00-15.30 hrs CEST

Sustainable WHO financing: Towards commissioning  the World Health Organization?
Thursday, 13 May 2021, 15.00-16.30 hrs CEST

 

Register now

The meetings will be set up as public Zoom webinars. All sessions can be attended independently..