Session 1

Session 1: The Role of NPHIs and IANPHI in Mitigating the Impact of Global Health Threats - reflecting on opportunities

This session was moderated by Dr. Ilesh Jani, Senior Researcher and Former Director General of the INS Mozambique.

Introductory talk: SDGs as a lighthouse for improved population health and well-being at a time of great uncertainties

Dr. Paulo Buss, Former Director General, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (FIOCRUZ), Brazil

Dr. Paulo Buss highlighted four key milestones in his journey with National Public Health Institutes (NPHIs) and IANPHI: the founding of IANPHI; the creation of NPHI network in the Community of Portuguese Speaking Countries (CPLP) and the IANPHI Latin America Regional Network; and recent efforts to establish regular G20 and BRICS NPHI conferences. These developments were supported by close collaborations, especially with Mozambique and Fiocruz's expanding presence in Africa.

He then reflected on today's global challenges, describing a deepening "polycrisis" — political, economic, environmental, and social — that has worsened since the COVID-19 pandemic. Rising inequality, climate threats, and a new global trade war are all exacerbating public health risks, especially in the Global South.

With the U.S. retreating from global institutions like the WHO, he urged BRICS and the EU to fill the leadership gap. He called on IANPHI to speak out in defense of multilateralism, the UN, and the 2030 Agenda, especially SDG 3 on health. He ended his presentation with a strong appeal for renewed commitment to peace, equity, and global health solidarity.

Panel: Reflections on opportunities by NPHIs

This panel was moderated by Dr. Ilesh Jani. He raised several questions for the panelists to answer.

First, he asked Dr. Tracey Cooper, Chief Executive of Public Health Wales, "Is the well-being of the economy a development that NPHIs should be paying special attention to? Based on your experience in Wales, are there opportunities for NPHIs within well-being economies in the current health financing crisis?"

In her answer, she emphasized that National Public Health Institutes (NPHIs) are facing a second major leadership moment—after responding to COVID-19, they must now navigate a complex mix of crises: trade wars, rising health costs, climate change, and growing health inequalities.

She highlighted the well-being economy as a valuable framework for NPHIs. This approach puts population health at the center of economic and policy decisions, stressing that a healthy society is essential for long-term fiscal stability. Countries like Wales, Finland, and New Zealand are using it to guide sustainable, equitable policies that support mental health, social cohesion, environmental protection, and economic resilience.

In Wales, the "Well-being of Future Generations Act" and a WHO Collaborating Centre help embed prevention and long-term thinking into policy. She encouraged other NPHIs to join the well-being economy movement, share resources, and collectively lead through these challenging times.

Then, Dr. Jani asked Dr. Lul Riek, Director of Africa CDC Regional Collaborating center for Southern Africa, "How can African Union Member States mitigate the impact of decreased global health financing and ensure continued progress in strengthening their healthcare systems? And what role could NPHIs play in this process?"

Dr. Riek explained that Africa's health security is essential for global health security. Africa CDC was born out of the 2013 Ebola outbreak, which sparked a commitment to build a stronger, more resilient health system on the continent. That experience, followed by COVID-19 and Mpox, showed Africa's ability to respond without panic, turning crises into catalysts for change.

Central to this transformation is the New Public Health Order, which emphasizes the need for every African country to have a fully functional National Public Health Institute and for the continent to become self-reliant in health financing. Over 25 countries have established NPHIs, but more must follow by 2030.

Strengthening domestic resource mobilization is vital—not just finding more funds, but spending smarter by realigning priorities. Primary healthcare and community health surveillance must be reinforced to ensure early detection and cost-effective responses.

Innovative financing is also needed: taxing harmful products, engaging the private sector, and exploring regional procurement and manufacturing solutions. He urged African countries to embrace the New Public Health Order, take ownership of their health strategies, and prioritize sustainable, locally-driven solutions to protect their populations.

The third panelist was Dr. Natalie Mayet, Deputy Director of the National Institute for Communicable diseases in South Africa. She was invited to answer the question, "Based on your experience in South Africa, are there opportunities that NPHI should seize to strengthen health adaptation and help build climate resilient health systems?"

Dr. Mayet said that climate change is a major, uncontrollable challenge affecting health systems, and that public health institutions must play a stronger role in responding. Reflecting on climate resilience in her own institution, she acknowledged major gaps—no clear strategy, minimal integration into health planning, and a lack of implementation despite growing environmental threats, such as extreme weather in South Africa.

She emphasized that public health institutions must take the lead by integrating climate change into policies, infrastructure design, and workforce awareness. While there are promising examples—like South African hospitals reducing their carbon footprints—these efforts are isolated. There is an urgent need for national strategies with measurable implementation plans.

Finally, she urged institutions to leverage their collective power through IANPHI to push for change, using data for advocacy and building a more climate-resilient global health system.

The last panelist, Dr. Youngmee Jee, Commissioner of the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, was asked "Based on your experience, how can NPHIs take advantage of the disruptive nature of some emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence to transform public health?"

Dr. Jee explained that the COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the importance of data-driven infectious disease response, prompting Korea's KDCA to overhaul its systems. Since 2024, it has launched an integrated, cloud-based infectious disease information system used nationwide to manage the full disease response process, from detection to patient care. Alongside this, KDCA developed a big data platform that supports research and policy-making, using pseudonymized data to protect privacy. This platform now links COVID-19 data with other national datasets, including cancer records, and has already supported numerous research projects. KDCA also built AI-based models for real-time epidemic forecasting and is establishing a national hub for disease modeling and early response. In addition, it's contributing to a large-scale bio big data project, with a strong focus on AI and cross-sector collaboration to prepare for future pandemics.

The session ended with an engaging Q&A session.