What will be the future of health collaboration in a “post-global health” era? This provocative question was the starting point of the high-level meeting held in Geneva, Switzerland, on Monday, May 19, which was attended by the director of the Oswaldo Cruz Institute (IOC/Fiocruz), Tania Cremonini de Araujo-Jorge. 

The event was promoted by the Center for Global Health of the Graduate Institute of Geneva, as a parallel activity of the World Health Assembly, which brings together the member states of the World Health Organization (WHO).  

The discussion focused on analyzing the geopolitical scenario, global health and diplomacy. Among other points, it was noted that the Covid-19 pandemic has shown the limits of solidarity between countries in the North and South and has eroded trust in the global health system. The United States' withdrawal from the WHO and the country's withdrawal of funding from several organizations in the area, during the Donald Trump administration, have further disrupted an ecosystem that was already out of balance. 

In this context, several questions have been raised: what if the era of global health, as a functional system composed of multilateral commitments, norms, treaties and international organizations, is over? What new ecosystem might emerge? What might be the new lines of international convergence? 

“I will return to Brazil quickly to work directly at the Symposium IOC Jubilee 125 years, with the awareness that we have to expand our local debates. I said there: I think it is no longer just about thinking globally and acting locally. It is about thinking locally and acting locally and globally, with new alliances and partnerships, with cooperation and social commitment as pillars”, said Tania after the event. 

With around 30 invited participants, the meeting brought together health sector stakeholders and experts from countries such as Canada, Chile, Germany, Indonesia, Kenya, Norway, Poland and Singapore, as well as representatives from companies and non-governmental organizations, such as Google, the International Association of National Public Health Institutes (IANPHI), the Find and Wellcome Trust foundations, among others. 

The debate was moderated by Professor Ilona Kickbusch, co-founder of the Center for Global Health at the Graduate Institute of Geneva, with extensive experience in the field, including positions at the WHO and on several international committees and councils, in addition to her academic activity. The event was funded by the Institute of Philanthropy (IoP), based in Hong Kong.  

Held from May 19 to 27, the World Health Assembly has the function of determining WHO policies. The Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz) is part of the Brazilian government delegation at the event, which will discuss topics such as health emergencies, financing and pandemic preparedness. In parallel with the event, several meetings are being held in Geneva, contributing to expanding the debate on international cooperation in health.