News and events archive

The latest news and events from the Partnership for International Politics and Diplomacy for Health
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The Promise of Accra Reset

NewsJuly may prove pivotal for the trajectory of reforms of the international system for health, even in the absence of negotiations of political declarations or high-level forums.
Important developments are underway for the two major reform initiatives:
1. The Accra Reset High-Level Panel will convene in Senegal to draft its report and recommendations;
2. At the same time, WHO Member States are expected to nominate representatives for the joint process on reforming the global health architecture.

What WHO Must Do to Remain Relevant – Devex Pro Briefing

NewsAhead of the 79th World Health Assembly, Anders Nordström joined Pete Baker from the Center for Global Development for a Devex Pro Briefing on what WHO needs to do to remain relevant in a rapidly changing global health landscape.

What's at Stake and What Comes Next for Global Health Reform - May 2026

NewsThe Partnership for International Politics and Diplomacy for Health has developed a second iteration of the slide deck providing an overview of the ongoing global health reform discussions, covering major developments since mid-2025, the drivers behind the current momentum, and the obstacles that could prevent meaningful change.

Side Event during the 79th WHA: What’s at Stake and What Comes Next for Global Health Reform

NewsOn the sidelines of the 79th WHA, the Partnership for International Politics and Diplomacy for Health convened a conversation among eminent and emerging global health leaders, including faculty and fellows from the Partnership’s Executive Program. We asked them about ‘elephants in the room’; narratives that must be challenged; questions that are still avoided; and uncomfortable truths that have not been articulated so far.

Six reforms to make WHO ready for the future (6/6)

NewsReform 6: Prioritise financial independence.

In The Lancet (April 2026), Anders Nordström, John Nkengasong, Peter Piot, Magda Robalo Correia e Silva, Ala Alwan, Ethel L Maciel, Ren Minghui, and Michel Kazatchkine lay out the case for focused, ambitious reform.

Six reforms to make WHO ready for the future (5/6)

NewsReform 5: Improve country-level relevance.

In The Lancet (April 2026), Anders Nordström, John Nkengasong, Peter Piot, Magda Robalo Correia e Silva, Ala Alwan, Ethel L Maciel, Ren Minghui, and Michel Kazatchkine lay out the case for focused, ambitious reform.

Six reforms to make WHO ready for the future (4/6)

NewsReform 4: Strengthen technical excellence and workforce.

In The Lancet (April 2026), Anders Nordström, John Nkengasong, Peter Piot, Magda Robalo Correia e Silva, Ala Alwan, Ethel L Maciel, Ren Minghui, and Michel Kazatchkine lay out the case for focused, ambitious reform.

Six reforms to make WHO ready for the future (3/6)

NewsReform 3: Reduce operational and delivery functions.

In The Lancet (April 2026), Anders Nordström, John Nkengasong, Peter Piot, Magda Robalo Correia e Silva, Ala Alwan, Ethel L Maciel, Ren Minghui, and Michel Kazatchkine lay out the case for focused, ambitious reform.

The Letter in the Safe: Anders Nordström Reflects on What Happened 20 years Ago

NewsTwenty years ago this week, Anders Nordström found himself leading the World Health Organization under circumstances no one had anticipated. In a personal account published on the Partnership website, he recalls 22 May 2006 — the opening day of the World Health Assembly — when Director-General Lee Jong-wook died suddenly of a brain haemorrhage, and a sealed letter in a safe changed everything.

Six reforms to make WHO ready for the future (2/6)

NewsReform 2: Make governance more effective.

In The Lancet (April 2026), Anders Nordström, John Nkengasong, Peter Piot, Magda Robalo Correia e Silva, Ala Alwan, Ethel L Maciel, Ren Minghui, and Michel Kazatchkine lay out the case for focused, ambitious reform.

Six reforms to make WHO ready for the future (1/6)

NewsReform 1: Refocus on core normative and scientific role.

In The Lancet (April 2026), Anders Nordström, John Nkengasong, Peter Piot, Magda Robalo Correia e Silva, Ala Alwan, Ethel L Maciel, Ren Minghui, and Michel Kazatchkine lay out the case for focused, ambitious reform.

Thriving in a Disruptive World: Rethinking Global Health Politics and Diplomacy

NewsOn the sidelines of this year’s World Health Summit Regional Meeting in Nairobi, Global Health Otherwise Media and The Partnership for International Politics and Diplomacy for Health hosted an interactive breakfast discussion centred on key skills emerging leaders need to thrive in the rapidly evolving global health landscape.

WHO Worth Fighting For: Authors Make the Case for Ambitious Reform

NewsAnders Nordström, together with John Nkengasong, Peter Piot, Magda Robalo Correia e Silva, Ala Alwan, Ethel L Maciel, Ren Minghui, and Michel Kazatchkine, published today a Comment in The Lancet arguing that WHO urgently needs reform or risks declining into irrelevance.

New Opinion Piece in Think Global Health

News“Inaction on the global health reform agenda is not a neutral choice; it is a decision to impede or even undermine progress.”

Gunilla Carlsson and Anders Nordström have a new piece out in Think Global Health discussing how the multilateral system for health needs reform, not retreat.

The Pulse of Tomorrow: Shifting the Paradigm for NCDs in Global Health Architecture

NewsOn 12 May, NCD Alliance, together with City Cancer Challenge and the Partnership for International Politics and Diplomacy for Health, is convening public health thought leaders, including member states, UN agencies, civil society, private sector, academia, foundations, and people living with NCDs, for a discussion on changes needed in the global health architecture to pivot towards integrated people-centred health systems.

Join the Health Bridge Seminar on Health Diplomacy (21 April 2026)

NewsWe are pleased to invite you to the seminar “Introduction to Health Diplomacy: Building a Healthier and Safer Region Amid Conflict and Uncertainty,” which will take place on 21 April from 13:00 CEST (14.00 EEST) to 15:00 CEST (16.00 EEST) at Inghesalen (Floor 2, Widerströmska huset), with the option to join online.

What's at Stake and What Comes Next for Global Health Reform

NewsThe Partnership for International Politics and Diplomacy for Health has developed a slide deck providing an overview of the ongoing global health reform discussions, covering major developments since mid-2025, the drivers behind the current momentum, and the obstacles that could prevent meaningful change.

A Year of Progress: The Partnership Reflects on 2025

NewsThe Partnership for International Politics and Diplomacy for Health (a joint initiative between Karolinska Institutet and the Stockholm School of Economics) has released its Annual Report for 2025, marking a year of significant milestones across all four of its core work streams. We are sincerely grateful for collaboration and partnerships with many colleagues across the world and looking forward to a continously productive 2026

Online seminar – Future global health functions and the role of WHO

NewsOn 23rd January 2026, The Partnership for International Politics and Diplomacy for Health hosted an interactive seminar on future global functions for health and the role of World Health Organization (WHO). The meeting convened more than 70 former fellows, faculty members and institutional partners from the Partnership’s Executive Program.

Health Diplomacy Institutional Network at PMAC 2026

NewsConnected Futures: Equity, Climate, and Health – How to navigate and use diplomacy in a complex political reality
Organised by the International Health Policy Program (IHPP) Foundation in collaboration with the Health Diplomacy Institutional Network, this Prince Mahidol Award (PMAC) 2026 side meeting discussed the alignment of climate change, health, equity, and innovation across governance and multilateral systems.

Global Health Diplomacy Workshop 2025, Japan

NewsGlobal Health Diplomacy Workshop 2025 was convened from 29 to 30 November 2025 at the Institute for Global Health Policy Research (iGHP), Japan Institute for Health Security. The workshop is conducted as part of a research grant from the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, aimed at developing an effective global health diplomacy training program.

Special Session: Health Diplomacy in a Changing World

NewsOn the sidelines of the UHC High-Level Forum 2025, the Institute for Global Health Policy Research (iGHP), Japan, hosted a Special Session titled “Health Diplomacy in a Changing World”. The session aimed to discuss the role, challenges, and direction of global health diplomacy amid the rapidly changing global health landscape.

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Transforming the Global Health Ecosystem

NewsA recent report by Muhammad Ali Pate, Donald Kaberuka and Peter Piot puts forward concrete suggestions for advancing global health reform, setting an important precedent: the reform discussions must now centre on specific, action-oriented proposals.

Health Diplomacy Side Meeting at PMAC 2026

NewsJoin us in Bangkok for a deep dive into the intersection of climate change, health, and demographic transitions at the Prince Mahidol Award Conference (PMAC) 2026. With the world facing complex political realities, this session explores how we can use diplomacy to drive meaningful change.

𝗗𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗧𝗶𝗺𝗲: Jan 26, 2026 | 9:00 AM
𝗟𝗼𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: Lotus Suite 2, 22nd Floor, Centara Grand, Bangkok

Call for Nominations: 3rd International Politics and Diplomacy for Health Executive Program

NewsThe program is organised by the Partnership for International Politics and Diplomacy for Health – a collaboration between the Stockholm School of Economics and Karolinska Institutet. The aim is to equip emerging generations of health leaders with health diplomacy skills; to build a network and community of practice of organisations and individuals committed to the improvement of health; and generate insights about the evolving nature of politics and diplomacy for health through research.

Registrations Open: Strengthening Capacity in Global Health Diplomacy

NewsStrengthening Capacity in Global Health Diplomacy is an in-person training program offered over a 12-month period for global health diplomats, practitioners and other professionals working and/or interested in global health. The program is offered by the International Geneva Global Health Platform with support from the Institute of Philanthropy and is taught by faculty from the Geneva Graduate Institute and other leading subject matter experts.

Lancet Series Research Consortium Convenes in Berlin

NewsIn October, representatives from the four research groups working on the Lancet Series on Diplomacy for Health gathered in Berlin for a two-day in-person workshop.
With the Series papers nearing submission, team members from across the globe, including Singapore, Lebanon, Japan, Guinea-Bissau, Sweden, China, India and Belgium, met to present their drafts, exchange feedback and plan the next steps.

Public Health Reviews - Call For Papers

NewsThe joint International Journal of Public Health (IJPH) and Public Health Reviews (PHR) Special Issue aims to advance the field of Public Health Diplomacy by calling for interdisciplinary and policy-relevant research from across the globe. PHR invites high-quality Reviews (all types) and Policy Briefs. IJPH invites Original Articles.

Health Diplomacy Breakfast Discussion in Berlin

NewsOn the sidelines of this year’s World Health Summit in Berlin, the Health Diplomacy Institutional Network hosted an interactive Breakfast Meeting to explore the role of health diplomacy in today’s evolving global health ecosystem, highlighting opportunities for research and training in the field.

Vaccines for all: Health, security, growth

NewsOn October 1, Karolinska Institutet and the Center for Resilient Health at the Stockholm School of Economics co-hosted a high-level discussion on the global role of vaccines in health, security, and economic growth. The event took place at Forskaren in Stockholm, a hub for collaboration between healthcare, academia, research, and business, and brought together around 70 participants from government, academia, civil society, and the private sector.

Webinar - The future of powers and financing for health

NewsThe Partnership for International Politics and Diplomacy for Health hosted a webinar on 30th September 2025 reflecting on the Africa Health Sovereignty Summit, and the subsequent launch of The Accra Reset during the 80th United Nations General Assembly.

The Summit served as a pivotal step towards domestic health financing, highlighting the current shifts in global health architecture, while The Accra Reset situated the ongoing health reforms within a broader development agenda.

Global Health Diplomacy & Security Course to Be Held in Malta, November 2025

NewsParticipate in the Global Health Diplomacy & Security Course, an intensive and interactive program designed for early- to mid-career professionals working in health, policy, international relations, and related fields. The course will take place in Malta in November 2025, bringing together recognized experts from leading institutions in global health, diplomacy, and policy.

Launch of PH DIPLO: A New Newsletter on Public Health Diplomacy

NewsThe Public Health Diplomacy Lab at the University of Memphis School of Public Health has launched a newsletter “PH DIPLO” which aims to bring together the latest updates on public health diplomacy and presents perspectives and insights across different stakeholders, including academicians, members of the civic society, non-governmental organizations, industry partners and policymakers.

PH DIPLO is an effort to sensitize individuals about the pivotal role public health diplomacy can play to address global health challenges in a collective manner through the understanding of broad stakeholder engagement, consensus building, negotiations, and outcomes.

Applications OPEN: Dalla Lana School of Public Health 2026 Executive Course on Global Health Diplomacy

NewsThe Executive Course on Global Health Diplomacy is the first-of-its-kind in Canada. Delivered in collaboration with the Office of International Affairs for the Health Portfolio, Government of Canada, and designed for professionals working in health or health-related sectors, this executive training course explores a wide range of global health diplomacy issues, with an emphasis on current affairs and urgent global health challenges, while offering a uniquely Canadian approach.

Global Health Diplomacy Executive Training Held at Peking University in July 2025

NewsTo address increasingly complex global public health challenges and strengthen China’s core capacity in global health governance, the “Global Health Diplomacy Executive Training Course” was successfully held from July 14 to 18, 2025, co-hosted by the Institute for Global Health, Peking University (PKU) and the Department of Global Health, PKU School of Public Health.

New International Project Health Bridge Unites Universities of Sweden, Ukraine, and Latvia to Advance Health Diplomacy

NewsThe newly launched Health Bridge project brings together leading universities from three countries – Karolinska Institutet (Sweden), Bogomolets National Medical University (Ukraine), and the University of Latvia – with the mission of strengthening health diplomacy across the Baltic and Eastern European region. The initiative has been awarded funding by the Swedish Institute, following a highly competitive call in which only 32 proposals were selected for support.

Health Diplomacy Breakfast Discussion in Berlin 2025

EventJoin us for a Breakfast Meeting during the World Health Summit 2025. Hosted by the Health Diplomacy Institutional Network, this interactive session will explore the role of health diplomacy, highlight training and research opportunities, and invite input on the Network’s next steps amid today’s fragmented global health landscape.

Health diplomacy in an evolving global health landscape with Dr Anders Nördstrom

NewsIn this episode of Complicating the Narrative, Salma Abdalla and Anders Nördstrom discuss health diplomacy and global health leadership, highlighting the need for partnerships and interdisciplinary collaboration. They explore the current global landscape and reflect on the progress that has been made since the establishment of the Millennium Development Goals. Progress has been made, though not at the pace we had hoped for.