On March 30, 2025, the National Taiwan University College of Public Health and the Foundation of Medical Professionals Alliance in Taiwan invited Professor Lawrence Gostin to deliver his Lecture on the Pandemic Agreement and the Rights to Health. The event was moderated by Associate Dean of the College of Public Health and Director of the Global Health Program Kun-Hsien Tsai, who kicked off the event by asking the audience to consider the challenges and opportunities that the field of global health governance faces today. The lecture drew attendees from various sectors, including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Taiwan Centers for Disease Control, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, National Cheng Kung University, Taipei Medical University, National Taiwan University, and the Taiwan Healthcare Youth Alliance among others.

▲ From left: Pei Kan Yang, Professor, Department of International Business, National Chengchi University; Han-Hsi Liu, Assistant Professor, Institute National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University Institute of Hospital and Health Care Administration; Yi-Chin Wu, Manager, Foundation of Medical Professionals Alliance in Taiwan; Chin-Shui Shih, Director, Office of International Cooperation, Ministry of Health and Welfare; Kun-Hsien Tsai, Associate Dean, College of Public Health, National Taiwan University; Jen-Hsiang Chuang, Director General, Taiwan Centers for Disease Control; Lawrence Gostin, Distinguished Professor, Georgetown University; Ching-Yi Lin, Deputy Minister, Ministry of Health and Welfare; Shan-Chwen Chang, Executive Vice President, National Taiwan University; Shih-Chia Lin, Chief Executive Officer, Foundation of Medical Professionals Alliance in Taiwan; Wan-Tsui Chiang, Associate Professor, Department of Law, National Cheng Kung University; Chao-Tien Chang, Associate Professor, Graduate Institute of National Development, National Taiwan University

Professor Gostin, a distinguished scholar in global health law and human rights, shared insights into the current development of international pandemic governance. He discussed key provisions proposed for the International Treaty for Pandemic Prevention, Preparedness and Response (Pandemic Treaty) and for future revisions of the International Health Regulations (IHR). Gostin also emphasized the importance of “public trust” in mounting a successful public health epidemic prevention and containment response. Speaking further on pandemic prevention, Gostin introduced the concept of “deep prevention.” This concept works in line with the One Health principle, which advocates for an interdisciplinary and multisectoral approach that integrates human, plant, and animal health to create a framework for preventing infectious disease outbreaks. Gostin outlined ongoing discussions in the realm of international public health agreements, highlighting challenges faced by low- and middle-income countries in implementing One Health policies, the need for a fair global health funding mechanism, and the importance of establishing a Pathogen Access and Benefit-Sharing (PABS) system. He also underscored the necessity of including the “right to health” as the core principle to any global health governance initiative, but lamented that any mention of the “right to health” is usually replaced with “equity” in health.

         In addressing the evolving landscape of regional health governance, Gostin called for strengthened collaboration between the African Union, the Africa Centres for Disease Control (Africa CDC), and the WHO Regional Office for Africa (WHO-AFRO). In the face of the United States withdrawing from the WHO, Gostin highlighted the need for the region to establish its own regional network and system for disease prevention and epidemic control to ensure it has the legal authority and financial resources to oversee and lead their own regional response. This event has furthered multi-sectoral collaborations and has left audience members with a deeper understanding of the current state of international public health agreements. The College of Public Health will continue actively participate in related talks and the dissemination of knowledge of global health governance.

▲ Lawrence Gostin, Distinguished Professor, Georgetown University speaking in the College of Public Health Lecture Hall

▲ Group photo of the invited Professor Gostin and attendees