The 13th edition of the Public Health Thought Leadership Dialogue (PHTLD) was held on 7 Feb 2024, featuring distinguished speaker Dr Anders Nordström, who is an advisor, advocate, activist of public health and former Swedish Ambassador for Global Health.
Following the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, it is increasingly clear that the quest for health security is closely connected to the endeavour for health equity. As we tackle the issues presented by global health threats, what novel multilateral systems and collaborative strategies can we imagine that differ from traditional models? How can we reshape our global health approach given the urgent realities at hand?
Prof Hsu Li Yang, Vice Dean for Global Health opened the session with an insightful welcome address on the historical roots of global health, tracing its evolution from tropical medicine to international health. He elaborated that the current concept of global health places a priority on improving health and achieving equity in health for all, with a focus on inter-disciplinary collaborative solutions to transnational problems.
Dr Nordström gave an insightful keynote presentation on the theme of the dialogue, “Advancing Global Health for more equitable health outcomes and health security for all”. He delved shed light on the global response to the COVID-19 pandemic, global health equity and security, global health trends and epidemiology, and the financing and politics of global health.
Dr Nordström’s reflections:
- More similarities and interconnectivity today as compared to 30 years ago
- Stronger national and regional capacities resources and politic structures
- Global health needs to move from an ODA mindset towards a GCG approach
- Health, equity and security are all political issues –it is important to apply a political lens and not only public health evidence
- Today’s silos can be addressed by focusing on health outcomes and not health services – equity and security not equity or security
- A need for a new Global Health Agenda
Following Dr Nordström’s presentation, a panel discussion and Q&A session ensued, featuring the following esteemed panel of experts:
- Dr Anders Nordström, Advisor, Advocate, Activist, former Swedish Ambassador for Global Health.
- Prof Ivy Ng, Senior Advisor, SingHealth Board
- Prof Vernon Lee, Group Director, Communicable Diseases, Ministry of Health, Singapore, Executive Director, National Centre for Infectious Diseases, Executive Director, interim Communicable Diseases Agency
- Prof Hsu Li Yang, Vice Dean for Global Health, NUS Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health
- Asst Prof Kiesha Prem, Programme Lead (NUS Public Health – Lao PDR Programme), NUS Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health
The School would like to thank everyone for your valuable contributions, whether through presentations, discussions, or simply being present. It’s the synergy of passionate minds that creates a platform for innovation and progress. Let’s carry the momentum forward and continue collaborating to address the pressing issues in public health.