Sub-Theme 1   Global Governance for Health (and Global Health Governance)

Key questions for exploration within sub-theme 1:

1. What are the implications of global governance for health and how can they improve the overall health outcomes?
2. How can global governance for health be enhanced or transformed to address emerging challenges and promote health equity?

Sub-Theme 2   Geopolitical Puppeteers: Identifying the Roles of Hidden Actors Shaping the Commercial Determinants of Global Health

Sub-theme 2 aims to discuss a way forward by exploring strategies and approaches that mitigate the harmful effects of CDoH on health and instead channel their influence towards promoting fairness, equality, and the overall well-being of individuals and the planet. This requires considering geopolitical considerations and developing policies and interventions that reshape the commercial sector's practices to prioritize health and social equity. The future directions should emphasize the need for a multi-faceted approach that addresses the complex and interconnected factors that contribute to commercial determinants of health. The governments should regulate and limit commercial practices that harm public health, support practices that promote health, and promote health literacy and consumer awareness. Additionally, the need to address commercial determinants of health in conjunction with social determinants of health and promote health equity is crucial (Maani, 2018).
 

The plenary session under this sub-theme will identify hidden entities influencing global health, such as multinational corporation and lobbyists. The parallel sessions will subsequently explore these for four specific themes/industries – 1) food, beverage and agricultural industry; 2) energy producing industries; 3) “new” technologies; and 4) the pharmaceutical and medical devices industry. This discussion also highlights the ethical implications of these actors' influence, including health disparities and environmental harm. It will pinpoint gaps in current legislation, suggesting improvements for regulatory frameworks. By fostering public discourse, this dialogue enhances accountability, motivates responsible practices among these hidden actors, and raises public awareness about CDoH.

Sub-Theme 3   Reimagining Global Health: Decolonization of Global Health Governance

Widening inequality, persistent power imbalances, enduring patterns of extraction, and the ongoing marginalization of key groups starkly contradict the goals of global health and challenge the prevailing narratives of its successes. The COVID-19 pandemic has further highlighted the inequalities within and between societies, prompting critical questions about the persistence of unfairness and the need to address historic injustices that continue to shape the present. These questions are deeply influenced by the geographies of power. Former colonial and imperial powers, which are also home to leading institutions of research, education, philanthropy, commerce, and international governance, remain prominent among donor countries. In stark contrast, formerly colonized countries remain poor, and formerly subjugated (and marginalized) people enjoy less health and fewer years of life. Additionally, influential global health journals and leading authors of global health research remain largely associated with the United States (US), the United Kingdom, and other former colonizers, even though their work primarily focuses on formerly colonized regions and populations. Recognizing these disparities in influence and decision-making, calls for “decolonizing” global health have emerged from various quarters. These calls are part of contemporary geopolitics and seek to ensure that any new world order is built on fairness and recognition of equality. 

This sub-theme seeks to examine each of these areas and facilitate discussion on the manifestation of non-merit inequalities, their consequences, and approaches to address them.

Key areas for exploration within sub-theme 3:

1. Analyzing the manifestations of non-merit inequalities within global health governance and research.
2. Understanding the consequences of these inequalities on health outcomes and global health efforts.
3. Examining approaches and strategies to address and redress the historical injustice and power imbalance in global health.
4. Exploring ways to foster inclusivity, equality, and fairness in global health governance, research, and decision-making.