Changing Paradigms of Global Health Governance and Health Security Architecture: Reflections from South and Southeast Asia

Contemporary global health governance (GHG) is increasingly characterised by fragmentation, geopolitical competition, power asymmetries, and a gradual retreat of traditional donors. At the same time, countries of the Global South are calling for a more equitable and representative order, prompting a rethinking of global health governance structures and financing mechanisms. South and Southeast Asia—given their demographic weight, epidemiological transitions, and growing economic and political influence—are central to shaping these shifts. The region faces a dual challenge: advancing universal health coverage (UHC) while addressing cross-border threats such as climate-related health risks and pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response (PPPR). This side event situates these challenges within ongoing World Health Assembly discussions and explores how strengthened regional cooperation can complement global multilateral processes. It focuses on three key pathways: (1) cross-border knowledge sharing, norm-setting, and technical exchanges; (2) the amplification of Global South voices and pooled expertise; (3) the value of issue-based coalitions and regional agendas on PPPR, which address the rapidly shifting health security architecture in South and Southeast Asia. The session builds on two research studies examining global and regional health governance dynamics and the implications of the Pandemic Agreement for regional cooperation in Asia.