In a World of Fragmented Health, UNITE Emphasizes Strategic Health Investment
As 2025 winds down, the global health landscape presents an uncomfortable picture: less multilateral cooperation, increased military spending, heightened geopolitical tensions, and diminished consensus on the fundamental idea that health equals security. Amidst this backdrop, the UNITE parliamentary network insists on a message that should resonate with any economic policymaker: investing in health is not a philanthropic gesture, but a strategic decision for stability and peace.
2025: A Year of Progress and Challenges
Guilherme Duarte, UNITE’s Executive Director, encapsulates the year’s duality in his end-of-year message. He highlights how 2025 was marked by budgetary pressures on health systems and the reallocation of resources from international cooperation to defense, just as the pandemic demonstrated that the next health crisis could cross borders and markets within weeks.
Despite these challenges, 2025 witnessed significant milestones: the OMS Pandemic Agreement’s approval, in which UNITE played a crucial role; the replenishment of the Global Fund with $11.34 billion for HIV, tuberculosis, and malaria; and a new UN Declaration on non-communicable diseases and mental health. These achievements remind us that, even in a fragmented world, there remains a majority of countries committed to a shared vision of global health as a public good.
Parliamentary Expansion and Influence
Within UNITE, 2025 was a year of growth: nearly 50 new parliamentarians from 16 countries joined, bolstering the network’s ability to shape global health agendas through national legislatures. Notably, a “health policy desk” for mental health was launched during the UN General Assembly, uniting lawmakers from Portuguese-speaking African countries to translate evidence into laws and budgets.
The renewal of UNITE’s Global Council also sends a political signal: balanced regional representation is maintained, including the Latin America and Caribbean seat, now presided by this author for 2026-7. The presence of voices from Europe, Africa, Asia, North America, and the Middle East strengthens the counterbalance to health nationalism in a time of multilateral retreat.
Manila 2026: Bridging the Health Divide
Manila 2026 aims to build bridges amidst divides. The next major chapter unfolds on March 6 and 7, 2026, in Manila, host of the UNITE Global Summit under the theme “Bridging the Health Divide: Political Courage to Invest.” Co-organized with Canada’s International Development Research Centre (IDRC), the summit seeks to elevate health investment to the highest political level, not as a cost but as a driver of productivity, social cohesion, and risk mitigation.
Manila’s selection is not symbolic; it reflects Asia’s current status as the epicenter of economic growth, technological innovation, and emerging South-South cooperation in health. The Filipino capital, described by UNITE as a crossroads of cultures and a hub of vibrant civil society and robust financial and governance institutions, offers the framework for discussing sustainable health systems and development banks’ roles in health financing.
Innovative Summit Format
The 2026 Summit format transcends traditional congresses, featuring guided parliamentary research led by experts, policy workshops for drafting concrete legislative guidelines, and interregional roundtables where each region discusses common issues from distinct perspectives. Innovative spaces like the “Salu-Salo Exchange” foster informal dialogues inspired by Filipino open and horizontal exchange principles, ensuring good ideas translate into collaboration networks rather than mere discourse.
Anticipated Themes and Stakeholders
The anticipated agenda maps the risks shaping health’s political economy: artificial intelligence and digital health, antimicrobial resistance, gender and health, and the intersection of climate crisis and health vulnerability. These topics will be discussed by approximately 100 parliamentarians, experts, multilateral agencies, development banks, civil society, and the private sector under Chatham House rules to encourage frank conversations, close to decision-making but away from the microphone.
Duarte’s Call for Parliamentary Leadership
Guilherme Duarte concludes by acknowledging parliaments’ roles in upholding human rights, protecting medical access, and ensuring the most vulnerable aren’t left behind. In a world where global consensus crumbles, the bet is that parliamentary leadership—closer to citizens and budgets—can serve as an anchor for a new wave of health investment.
Relevance for Countries Like Mexico
For countries like Mexico, the message is particularly relevant. The discussion on public spending must stop separating “health” from “economics.” In 2026, the question isn’t whether we can afford more health investment but whether we can afford not to. The Manila Summit will, in large part, serve as a gauge of whether political courage exists to close this gap. An invitation extends to all Mexican legislators to join in Manila and contribute to global, regional, and world health.
Key Questions and Answers
- Q: Why is investing in health a strategic decision?
A: Investing in health is not merely a philanthropic act; it’s crucial for global stability and peace.
- Q: What significant milestones were achieved in global health in 2025?
A: Milestones include the OMS Pandemic Agreement approval, replenishment of the Global Fund, and a new UN Declaration on non-communicable diseases and mental health.
- Q: How has UNITE expanded its influence in 2025?
A: UNITE welcomed nearly 50 new parliamentarians from 16 countries, enhancing its ability to shape global health agendas through national legislatures.
- Q: What is the significance of Manila 2026?
A: Manila 2026 aims to elevate health investment to the highest political level, reflecting Asia’s current role in economic growth and technological innovation.
- Q: What innovative aspects does the 2026 UNITE Global Summit feature?
A: The summit includes guided parliamentary research, policy workshops, interregional roundtables, and the “Salu-Salo Exchange” for informal dialogues.
- Q: What are the key themes for health’s political economy in the coming decade?
A: Themes include artificial intelligence and digital health, antimicrobial resistance, gender and health, and the intersection of climate crisis and health vulnerability.
- Q: Why is parliamentary leadership crucial for global health investment?
A: Parliaments are closer to citizens and budgets, making them a potential anchor for a new wave of health investment in a world where global consensus is eroding.
