Bridging the Health Divide
Political Courage to Invest
160+
in-person
attendees
55+
in-person
Parliamentarians
40+
countries
represented
70+
speakers
why it matters
The 2026 Summit took place at a critical juncture, as the world faces intersecting crises that test the resilience of health systems and the sustainability of public financing. A moment when political leadership becomes the most decisive investment of all.
Under the theme “Bridging the Health Divide: Political Courage to Invest”, the Summit offered parliamentarians and partners a unique space to engage in open dialogue on the challenges and opportunities of sustaining health financing in an ever-changing context. Through sessions organized in collaboration with leading global health organizations, participants gained practical tools, concrete data, and access to peer networks, equipping them to drive meaningful action within their own parliaments and institutions.
Created following consultation with network members and with the guidance of the UNITE Global Board. The Strategy sets out the network’s vision and priorities for the next five years and was presented by UNITE’s Executive Director, Guilherme Duarte.
Presented during the High-Level Dinner on August 3rd, to Martin Chungong, Honorary Secretary General of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), in recognition of his outstanding contribution to global parliamentarism and health diplomacy. Current IPU Secretary General Ms. Anda Filip offered her congratulations via video address.
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Parliamentarians for Climate Network (P4C), a parliamentary network founded in 2023 by UNITE Ambassador from Morocco, Hon. Dr. Ibtissame Azzaoui, with the vision of reducing climate injustice for a more equitable and sustainable world. The agreement sets out a framework for sustained collaboration on engaging parliamentarians on climate-health.
A first-of-its-kind digital platform connecting parliamentarians worldwide on health policy, which was officially launched for UNITE members and Summit attendees.
Within the platform, UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health launched a Community of Practice on tobacco control in partnership with the Secretariat of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control as its inaugural thematic dialogue, to continue parliamentary collaboration on the topic.
How to access UNITE Connect
📩 UNITE Members: Exclusive invitations have been sent by email to the address registered with UNITE. Be sure to check your spam or junk folder.
Having trouble logging in? Contact the UNITE Secretariat at unitenetwork@unitenetwork.org.
🤝 Partners: Partners can join the platform through dedicated Communities of Practice focused on key global health priorities.
A joint initiative of the Global Health Policy Lab (GHPL), the African Population and Health Research Center (APHRC), and UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health – opening a new cycle of member-led research that will feed into the Health Policy Trends Report 2027, building on the 2026 report’s survey of 109 policymakers across 49 countries.
For more information, read the news via this link.
The Summit culminated in the presentation of a Political Declaration by UNITE member parliamentarians, committing the network to concrete follow-up action across pandemic preparedness, immunization financing, climate and health, and health system financing.
Read the Political Declaration via this link.
As part of Canada’s foreign affairs and development efforts, the International Development Research Centre (IDRC) champions and funds research and innovation within and alongside developing regions to drive global change. IDRC invests in high-quality research in developing countries, shares knowledge with researchers and policymakers for greater uptake and use and mobilize their global alliances to build a more sustainable and inclusive world.
The UNITE Global Summit’s agenda will be divided into four main pillars which cover relevant global health topics of the hour, reflecting the main topics highlighted during WHS 2024, as well.
Despite all communities, regardless of the country, being susceptible to disease, there are severe disparities in regard to access to health services and to healthcare outcomes when it comes to vulnerable groups.
The right to health is a legally binding commitment enshrined in international human rights instruments and recognized worldwide. Governments should develop and implement policies that ensure universal access to quality health services.
The most effective – and cost effective – way to protect populations from known and unknown health threats is to stop them before they spread.
As the world’s interconnectedness continues to evolve, the effectiveness of the global health architecture and security remains paramount in safeguarding the prosperity of nations across borders.
The development of modern, agile, and qualitative health systems is key for addressing health challenges and fostering wellbeing for all. Health systems are poised to undergo a profound transformation, largely driven by advancements in digital technology.
Embracing these advancements is crucial for the sustainability and effectiveness of health systems worldwide, heralding a future where healthcare is truly patient-centered, efficient, and equitable.
Ensuring the protection of communities and the resilience of healthcare systems hinges on sustainable financing for health. Countries across the world differ significantly on how they organise and finance national health systems, with extremes going fully State-funded models to fully private-funded or even supported almost exclusively by international development aid.
Therefore, prioritizing sustainable, long-term funding mechanisms that can support equitable and affordable healthcare services for all, while mitigating financial strain is key.
The 2022 Summit took place at a particularly opportune moment. The world is recovering from the most severe public health crisis in 100 years and simultaneously marking the halfway point of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) period.
The pandemic has set back the fight against many infectious diseases by years. New partnerships, new ways of thinking, and new funding will be needed to get back on track and achieve the promise of the SDGs. The UNITE Global Summit catalyzed that renewed effort.
The main agenda of the UNITE Global Summit dedicated sessions each day to one of UNITE’s three core strategic themes:
COVID-19 has transformed global health and modern politics. The international architecture that responds to current and future pandemics needs to be updated to serve the most vulnerable. Political leadership is the key to not losing sight of other infectious diseases as well as to advancing more sustainable, fairer, and equitable policies for all, always and everywhere.
To implement more inclusive actions and solutions, the UNITE Global Summit serves as a platform for all relevant stakeholders to connect with elected members of parliament, congresses and senates who have the powers of: Amending and creating laws; Increasing specific budgets; Influencing policies; Holding national governments & international organizations accountable.
The 2021 edition of the Summit was based on three main themes:
13 Sessions
Attendees
Policymakers
+110 Countries
People reached
on social media
Rate of engagement
on social media
2 in each 10 were members of government
12
Countries with more polycimakers present
17
11
08
From December 6 to 8, over 1000 elected members of parliament, government officials, policymakers, global health experts, practitioners, representatives of civil society, and activists have gathered to discuss the current and persistent challenges infectious diseases pose to people worldwide.
For three days, 110 speakers explored how COVID-19 has transformed global health and modern politics and how the international architecture could respond to current & future pandemics while serving the most vulnerable and not losing sight of other infectious diseases. The UNITE Global Summit results from cooperation and partnerships between UNITE and 20 international organizations working on different fronts related to public health. The program focused on three central pillars.
The UNITE Global Summit: Virtual 2020 was held online on September 7-8.
The first UNITE Global Summit brought together political leaders and key stakeholders from across the world to reaffirm international co-operation towards the mission of ending the global threat of infectious diseases.
A key outcome of the Global Summit: Virtual was the pledging of support by parliamentarians and UNITE affiliate partners to the UNITE 2020 Global Summit Statement – calling on governments to take action and not lose sight of the SDGs in the midst and aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic.
This virtual event ended with the positive message that COVID-19 is a game-changer; it opens windows of opportunities to transform the global health order, while reaffirming the role of political leaders as the interface between civil society, academia, media, the private sector, national government, and international organisations. Global Summit speakers enacted the momentum needed for policymakers from parliaments, congresses, and senates to adopt life-changing policies. “Lives depend upon you”, as shared by the WHO Director-General, Tedros Adhanom.
12 Sessions
Attendees
Policymakers
+110 Countries
People reached
on social media
Rate of engagement
on social media
