The UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health and the AHF Global Public Health Institute will convene two urgent panel sessions on regional health security and global health financing at the UNITE Global Summit 2026 in Manila, Philippines, on Aug. 3, rallying parliamentarians to translate political will into legislation, financing, and oversight.
With an evolving global health architecture, parliamentarians are playing an increasingly important role in shaping how countries prepare for future health emergencies and finance resilient health systems. The two panels will focus on strengthening regional approaches to health emergencies while advancing sustainable health financing through legislative action, oversight, and political leadership. Together, they speak directly to the Summit’s theme, “Bridging the Health Divide: Political Courage to Invest,” translating regional solidarity and financing reform into concrete parliamentary action.
Panel 1
WHAT: | Panel Discussion — The Role of Parliamentarians in Advancing Regional Approaches to Health Emergencies – Regions as co-creators of the evolving global health architecture
As regional institutions such as Africa CDC, ACPHEED, CARPHA, the Gulf CDC, the European CDC, and others take on a growing role in health emergency preparedness and response, this session examines how parliamentarians can translate regional commitments into lasting policy through legislation, financing, and oversight, strengthening regions as a cornerstone of the evolving global health architecture. |
WHEN: | Monday, August 3, 2026 | 3:00–4:00 p.m. PHT (Philippine Time) |
WHERE: | Manila Marriott Hotel at Newport World Resorts
Address: 2 Resorts Drive, Newport World Resorts, NCR - Fourth District, Barangay 183, Pasay City, Metro Manila, Philippines, 1309
Room: Ceremonial Hall |
WHO: | Amb. Olawale Maiyegun (Nigeria), Former Ambassador to the African Union
Prof. Elil Renganathan (Malaysia), Monash University Malaysia – Policy Hub for Public Health Emergencies
Hon. Dr. Mariam Jashi (Georgia), UNITE Chapter Chair for Eastern Europe and Central Asia; CEO, Global Sepsis Alliance
Hon. Manal El-Sayed, Member of Parliament, Egypt
Moderator: Ariel Terrón (Mexico), Director, AHF Global Public Health Institute for Latin America and the Caribbean |
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: | Coffee break with refreshments between panel session 1 & 2 from 4:00-4:30 p.m. in the Ceremonial Hall Foyer
Panelists will be available for interviews. |
Panel 2
WHAT: | Panel Discussion — Global Health Equity and Financing
As rising sovereign debt and shrinking donor budgets force difficult choices between debt service, health investment, and pandemic preparedness and response, this session brings parliamentarians together with leading technical and financing experts to explore how legislative oversight, tax policy, and innovative financing can safeguard health systems. An interactive "Policy Dilemmas" exercise will offer an opportunity for parliamentarians in the room to apply these ideas to real-world financing trade-offs. |
WHEN: | Monday, August 3, 2026 | 4:30–5:30 p.m. PHT (Philippine Time) |
WHERE: | Manila Marriott Hotel at Newport World Resorts,
Address: 2 Resorts Drive, Newport World Resorts, NCR - Fourth District, Barangay 183, Pasay City, Metro Manila, Philippines, 1309 |
WHO: | Opening Remarks: Dr. Chhim Sarath (Cambodia), Bureau Chief, AHF Asia
Hon. Fortune Daniel Molokele, Member of Parliament, Zimbabwe and UNITE Chapter Chair for Southern and Eastern Africa
Hon. Pia Cayetano, Member of Parliament, Philippines and UNITE Chapter Chair for APAC
Hon. Amar Patnaik, Member of Parliament, India and UNITE Chapter Chair for India
Priya Basu (India), Executive Head, The Pandemic Fund
K. M. Gopakumar (India), Senior Researcher and Legal Advisor, Third World Network (TWN)
Moderator: Hannah Vaughan Jones, Emmy-nominated British journalist |
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: | Coffee break with refreshments between panel session 1 & 2 from 4:00-4:30 p.m. in the Ceremonial Hall Foyer
Panelists will be available for interviews. |
The AHF Global Public Health Institute develops and advocates for evidence-based policy change to create a more equitable and effective global health architecture. With a focus on infectious diseases and health systems, our work addresses critical gaps in global health security, equity, governance, law, and finance. The AHF Global Public Health Institute is part of the AIDS Healthcare Foundation. Visit our website for more information: ahfinstitute.org.
UNITE is a non-profit, non-partisan, global network of current and former members of parliament from multinational, national, state, and regional Parliaments, Congresses, and Senates, committed towards the promotion of efficient and sustainable policies for improved global health systems, in alignment with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Visit our website for more information: https://www.unitenetwork.org/
AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), the world’s largest HIV/AIDS healthcare organization, provides cutting-edge medicine and advocacy to more than 3 million people across 50 countries, including the U.S. and in Africa, Latin America/Caribbean, the Asia/Pacific Region, and Eastern Europe. In January 2025, AHF received the MLK, Jr. Social Justice Award, The King Center’s highest recognition for an organization leading work in the social justice arena. To learn more about AHF, visit us online at AIDShealth.org, find us on Facebook, and follow us on Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok.
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