On November 5th, the Panel III of the 3rd World Health Forum, centered around "Governance and Empowerment," convened to tackle global challenges related to pandemics. The panel aimed to explore the establishment of a robust global legal framework for health, enhance healthcare professional training, leverage technological innovations, and fortify measures for pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response. Its goal was to propose strategies for reshaping the global health governance system in the post-pandemic era, organized into three sessions: "Technological Empowerment," "Health Workforce," and "Global Health Governance."

1.Technological Empowerment

The first sessions delved into technological empowerment, assessing the effective translation of modern technology into preventive strategies. Chaired by Associate Professor Tang Kun from VSPH, the speakers included Hu Jian, senior vice president of Yidu Cloud, Geert Molenberghs, professor at Hasselt University in Belgium, and Zhang Min, professor from VSPH.

Hu Jian shared insights into the use of data-driven infectious disease monitoring and early warning systems in various Chinese cities and practical experiences in places like Singapore and Brunei during the pandemic. Emphasizing the importance of data and artificial intelligence in monitoring, he advocated for global, local, and individual-level application of artificial intelligence.

Geert Molenberghs shared Belgium's experience in monitoring the pandemic's development, highlighting the necessity of a robust monitoring system for an effective response. He called for improved communication between researchers, government, and relevant departments with the public and media.

Zhang Min presented "Biostatisticians' Response to the COVID-19 Crisis: During and After the Pandemic" from the biostatistics perspective, emphasizing how biological data can aid in modeling pandemic dynamics for better decision-making in future outbreaks. She stressed the need for biostatistics courses to focus on infectious diseases and enhance students' foundations in mathematics and statistics.

2.Health Workforce

The second session focused on the health workforce and leadership, moderated by Associate Professor Zhu Jiming from VSPH. Keynote speakers included Thomas Inui, academician emeritus of the National Academy of Medicine in the U.S., Tien Yin Wong, vice-provost of Tsinghua University, chair professor and founding head of Tsinghua Medicine School, and elected fellow of the Singapore National Academy of Science, and Zhang Yunhong, deputy head of the East Asia Delegation of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC).

Thomas Inui underscored the need for pro-social leadership in primary healthcare, improved communication mechanisms, and public understanding of science to counter misinformation. He emphasized cultivating leadership skills in young people for future pandemic response.

Tien Yin Wong discussed "Interdisciplinary Education Cultivating Future Medical Workers," emphasizing the need for interdisciplinary solutions in public health. He highlighted the importance of students not only acquiring knowledge in public health and preventive medicine but also adapting to the integration of technology, artificial intelligence, engineering, and medicine.

Zhang Yunhong shared IFRC's practice in enhancing community resilience by strengthening community human resources during the pandemic. She stressed the significance of community-based monitoring networks and early warning systems, advocating for increased communication and collaboration with communities to achieve better public health goals.

3.Global Health Governance

The third session, "Global Health Governance," focused on establishing a global legal framework to strengthen pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response. Assistant Professor Zhang Yi from VSPH moderated the session. Keynote speakers included Lawrence Gostin, distinguished University professor, Georgetown University, member of the National Academy of Medicine/National Academy of Sciences, Gian Luca Burci, senior visiting professor of International Law, Geneva Graduate Institute and former legal counsel of the World Health Organization, Scott Burris, director and professor at the Center for Public Health Law Research at Temple University, and Wang Chenguang, former dean and professor at the School of Law of Tsinghua University.

Lawrence Gostin proposed setting binding norms through a pandemic treaty, emphasizing the importance of strengthening health systems for early detection and response. He stressed the need for countries to adhere to the pandemic accord and international health regulations for a safer, more secure, and fairer world.

Gian Luca Burci highlighted the complexity of formulating international legal documents by the World Health Organization, underlining the importance of "fairness," "consensus," and "human rights" in developing a pandemic treaty. He emphasized considering and safeguarding human rights, including access to medical countermeasures.

Scott Burris critically reflected on global governance during pandemics, proposing more responsibility in policy-making, breaking traditional talent training models, encouraging interdisciplinary integration, and investing in various stages of the policy-making process.

Wang Chenguang proposed the "Three Necessities" in global governance: the necessities of government, law, and the right to health. He emphasized evidence-based decision-making by governments, the legal mobilization of society during pandemic response, and the essential nature of the right to health.

This comprehensive panel offered valuable insights into the challenges and potential solutions for reshaping the global health governance system in the post-pandemic era.