From dialogue to direction: Enabling partnerships to drive the future of health
In a world increasingly fractured by inequality, geopolitics and climate disruption, health has become both the mirror and the battleground of our collective challenges. In such a situation, the future of health cannot be imagined in isolation. It must be shaped together, through plural voices, shared leadership and grounded collaboration. It was with this vision and a deep sense of purpose that NIMS University Rajasthan hosted the World Health Summit Regional Meeting in New Delhi under the theme of ‘Scaling Access to Ensure Health Equity’ from 25 to 27 April 2025. This was the first WHS Regional Meeting ever held in India and in the broader South Asian region, and thus indicated a profound shift in shaping the global health narrative.
A gathering of scale, diversity and purpose
With over 5,000 delegates, 950 speakers, 163 sessions and representation from 54 countries, this gathering became the largest and most diverse in the history of WHS regional meetings. Women made up half of the participants, and youth accounted for over a third, which reflected a structural commitment to inclusivity and to the belief that those who are most affected by health inequities must be at the heart of shaping solutions. The regional meeting brought together a spectrum of voices that are often underrepresented yet central to the real-world delivery of health. It provided an opportunity for policymakers, researchers, front-line health workers, civil society leaders, youth advocates and digital innovators to share a common space. Although the scale was the highlight of the event, the diversity of perspectives and the depth of purpose were at the core of the discussions.
Shifting the narrative: Global South as a catalyst for health partnerships
Hosting the meeting in India held particular significance for the country and for the Global South. It highlighted the growing recognition that leadership in global health must draw from a wider range of experiences and perspectives. Resilience has often thrived in places that have had to navigate scarcity with ingenuity. In this sense, the regional meeting was as much about expanding who contributes to the conversation as it was about the ideas themselves. It affirmed South Asia’s role as an active contributor to shaping health solutions, grounded in both knowledge and experience.
More than a platform for ideas, the WHS Regional Meeting served as a point of ignition and catalysed new forms of collaboration that are guided by long-term vision and commitments. It brought together a critical mass of actors capable of shaping regional and cross-regional ecosystems of trust, exchange and mutual learning. Policy shifts and institutional changes take time, but an ecosystem was established at New Delhi for deeper engagement and a continuum of partnerships. The real strength of gatherings like these lies in that ongoing continuum, which creates a space in which shared problem-solving becomes possible.
What unfolded over the three days was a dialogue on access, equity and reimagining of the very architecture of global health engagement. The conversations ranged over many topics: the future of digital health, fragility of front-line systems, financing models for universal care, artificial intelligence in health care, access to traditional medicine, gender and disability inclusion, and climate-resilient health systems. Yet, despite the breadth of the themes, the need for synergy among disciplines, sectors, knowledge systems and generations was a current that ran through every session. One of the key takeaways from the summit was that progress lies in weaving together the technical with the political, the global with the local and the scientific with the lived experience.
Universities as conveners of change
In a fractured world, we as universities play a critical role by going beyond a space of inquiry and learning to one of convening impactful dialogues. Our collective strength is in bridging divides between science, policy and politics. By convening diverse voices and fostering open, evidence-informed dialogue, we can build the trust and continuity that are needed to address complex health challenges. However, such gatherings should not be considered as a destination but rather an inflection point for growth in collective action for the future of health. Through the NIMS Institute of Public Health and Governance, the NIMS-Marík Institute of Computing, AI, Robotics and Cybernetics, and our deepening partnerships across the academic and development sectors, NIMS University remains committed to advancing our role as both a platform and a participant in shaping a more inclusive, more resilient health future. The 2025 WHS Regional Meeting was just the beginning – what comes next will depend on our collective willingness to build on it with durable partnerships and an unwavering focus on justice, dignity and access for all.
