about the Summit
The UNITE Global Summit is the world’s leading Forum for forging partnerships between parliamentarians and leaders from the global health community. Leading parliamentarians from across the world will gather with experts from civil society, affected communities, international organizations and academia to discuss the most pressing issues in Global Health and set the political agenda for the year(s) to come.
collaboration with the World Health Summit
In 2024, the World Health Summit and the UNITE Global Summit will join efforts and partner for an additional conference day, in Berlin, with the aim of placing global health at the highest level of the political agenda.
The World Health Summit and UNITE intend to catalyze exchanges between parliamentarians and relevant stakeholders in global health, better aligning policymaking with the main discussions, outcomes and recommendations resulting from WHS 2024.
the agenda
The UNITE Global Summit 2024’s agenda will be divided into four main pillars which cover relevant global health topics of the hour:
08:00 - 09:00
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Opening of Registration Desk
Opening of Registration Desk
Speakers & Participants
09:00 - 09:45
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Opening Session
Building Trust for Global Health in an era of Political, Social and Health Challenges
Today, global health faces unprecedented challenges due to different but convergent political, social, economic, and environmental factors. These questions include political polarization, disinformation and misinformation, especially […]
Building Trust for Global Health in an era of Political, Social and Health Challenges
Today, global health faces unprecedented challenges due to different but convergent political, social, economic, and environmental factors. These questions include political polarization, disinformation and misinformation, especially on social media, climate change and conflict, that lead to the increase of migration flows, and economic inequalities within and between countries.
Besides these global challenges, the COVID-19 pandemic and the perception that health institutions were not prepared to face it have deeply eroded trust in institutions, including healthcare systems.
This erosion of trust weakens public health initiatives and raises doubts about the efforts needed to tackle global health crises and achieve health for all. Members of Parliament, as representatives of different sectors of society, play a critical role in rebuilding trust both in health and political institutions.
Speakers & Participants
Human Rights & Equitable Access to Health
10:00 - 11:15
Parallel Session
Parliamentary Inquiry
Implementing a Human Rights Framework in Drug Policies
In recent years, the global community and international organizations have placed an increasing focus on the human rights impacts of drug policies. Drug control efforts seriously […]
Implementing a Human Rights Framework in Drug Policies
In recent years, the global community and international organizations have placed an increasing focus on the human rights impacts of drug policies. Drug control efforts seriously undermine human rights in many countries, emphasizing the need for a new approach to drug policy at the global, regional and national levels.
While evidence and guidance from international organizations has long recommended shifting the focus of drug policies from law enforcement to public health approaches, many jurisdictions continue to enforce criminal sanctions on people who use drugs. The criminalization of drug use has exacerbated stigma and discrimination and hindered access to critical health and harm reduction services for people who use drugs; and global drug enforcement continues to have a detrimental impact on the enjoyment of human rights by all.
In this Parliamentary Inquiry, case studies of drug policy reform initiatives will be presented, focusing on opportunities and challenges of implementation at the national, regional and international levels. Expert speakers and participants will highlight how change is possible and what it means to implement a human rights framework in drug policies on the ground, sharing important lessons learned and practical steps parliamentarians take to inform and advance efforts across countries and levels of governance.
Speakers & Participants
Human Rights & Equitable Access to Health
10:00 - 11:15
Parallel Session
Parliamentary Inquiry
Elevating Patient Perspectives in Universal Health Coverage (UHC): A Focus on Liver Cancer
Elevating Patient Perspectives in Universal Health Coverage (UHC): A Focus on Liver Cancer
Speakers & Participants
11:30 - 11:45
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Welcome Words by Hon. Yvonne Magwas, Vice-President of the German Bundestag
Welcome Words by Hon. Yvonne Magwas, Vice-President of the German Bundestag
Speakers & Participants
Strengthening of Healthcare Systems
14:45 - 15:00
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Keynote Speech
The Role of the Private Sector in the Strengthening of Healthcare Systems in LMICs: the Case of Non-Communicable Diseases
Many countries are now tasked with strengthening their healthcare systems and Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) have emerged as the primary cause of premature death and disability, affecting […]
The Role of the Private Sector in the Strengthening of Healthcare Systems in LMICs: the Case of Non-Communicable Diseases
Many countries are now tasked with strengthening their healthcare systems and Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) have emerged as the primary cause of premature death and disability, affecting both industrialized and Low- and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs). Conditions such as cardiovascular diseases, cancer, diabetes, chronic respiratory conditions, and mental health disorders are increasing in prevalence, posing significant challenges for healthcare systems globally.
Addressing these challenges requires collaborative efforts to enhance regulatory frameworks, procurement processes and supply chains, to train healthcare professionals, to improve diagnostic and data capabilities, as well as to increase funding for NCDs management.
Research-based pharmaceutical companies are eager to expand existing collaborations with governments and other healthcare system’s stakeholders to improve outcomes for those living with NCDs. Collaborative examples such as “Access Accelerated”, the Ghana Heart Initiative (now called AYA), and many other public-private partnerships listed by the Global Health Progress and the WHO Knowledge Action Portal on NCDs, demonstrate the breadth and impact of these partnerships.
Strong collaboration, additional investments, and accelerated implementation of NCDs programs are crucial for achieving the health-related Sustainable Development Goals.
Speakers & Participants
Sustainable Financing for Health
16:30 - 16:45
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Keynote Speech
The Role of MPs in Preventing Health-related Poverty: a Conversation with Dr Madga Robalo, UHC2030 Co-Chair
According to the World Health Organization, at least 4.5 billion people — more than half of the world’s population — lack essential health services. Financial protection […]
The Role of MPs in Preventing Health-related Poverty: a Conversation with Dr Madga Robalo, UHC2030 Co-Chair
According to the World Health Organization, at least 4.5 billion people — more than half of the world’s population — lack essential health services. Financial protection has progressively deteriorated over the last 20 years, with 2 billion people experiencing financial hardship due to out-of-pocket health costs. For many, these payments lead to what is known as a ‘catastrophic cost,’ forcing individuals to forgo or delay necessary medical care. This not only prolongs illness but can also have long-term, devastating effects on health, income, and livelihoods. The consequences of this situation extend beyond individuals and families to affect governments and societies at large. As more people face health crises, nations lose valuable human capital, while long-term care and welfare support costs rise. Moreover, these avoidable health-related expenditures contribute to higher national healthcare costs, placing even greater pressure on public systems.
As elected representatives, Members of Parliament hold a pivotal role in addressing these challenges. Countries must translate their commitments to universal health coverage (UHC) into concrete laws, budgets, policies, and programmes aimed at reducing financial barriers to essential health services, particularly for the poorest and most vulnerable populations. Reducing financial barriers to healthcare and protecting people from the financial hardship that often accompanies illness must be priorities. Lawmakers must drive the legislative and policy reforms needed to ensure that all citizens, especially those in vulnerable and marginalized communities, have access to affordable, quality health services.
Speakers & Participants
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Dr. Eleanor Nwadinobi, M.D.
She is the first Nigerian to rise to the position of International President of the Medical Women's International Association (MWIA) in its over one - hundred year existence. She sits on the boards of several National and International Organisations including Every Woman Treaty, a coalition advocating for an optional protocol to end all forms of violence against women and girls and is Co-chair Immunization Agenda (IA) 2030 Partnership Council.
Eleanor has authored several publications and received numerous awards of merit.
Dr. Eleanor Nwadinobi, M.D.
President, Medical Women's International Association (MWIA)
Dr. Branwen J Hennig, PhD
Previously, Branwen consulted for TDR at the World Health Organization (WHO) on implementation research in low-resource settings. As the Interim Head of International Operations at Wellcome in London, UK, she oversaw Wellcome’s Africa & Asia Programmes.
Branwen’s expertise as global health specialist covers the spectrum from research & development through to translation into policy & practice. Her experience builds on developing and delivering strategic priorities in global health as funder and consultant, and leading research at the MRC Unit The Gambia / London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine and beyond.
Dr. Branwen J Hennig, PhD
Executive Director, Global Health Policy Lab
speakers & participants
Dr. Ricardo Baptista Leite, M.D.
President & Founder, UNITE, Portugal
Dr. Ricardo Baptista Leite, M.D.
• Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of HealthAI – The Global Agency for Responsible AI in Health, a Geneva-based organization striving to enable and improve access to inclusive, impactful and responsible regulation in the areas of Digital and Artificial Intelligence (AI) with focus on healthcare.
• Global Ambassador of the ‘G20 Health & Development Partnership’ aimed at advising and advocating G20 countries on health policies aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
• Chair of the Center for Global Health at NOVA Information Management School (NOVA IMS)
• Founder of CREATING HEALTH – Research and Innovation funding, a sustainable nonprofit which has been set up within the Católica University of Portugal to help capture funding for health innovation and research projects (http://creatinghealth.ics.lisboa.ucp.pt).
Prof. José Manuel Barroso
Board Chair at Gavi, The Vaccine Alliance
Prof. José Manuel Barroso
He was Prime Minister of Portugal (2002-2004) and President of the European Commission for two terms (2004-2009 and 2009-2014).
He is also President of the General Assembly of the Portuguese Diaspora Council and Chairman of its EurAfrican Forum.
In his long political career, José Manuel Barroso held governmental functions for twelve years (Secretary of State for Internal Administration, Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Prime Minister) and also party functions, namely President of the Social Democratic Party, and parliamentary positions (Chairman of the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the Assembly of the Republic).
In the academic field, he holds a master's degree in Law (University of Lisbon) and a master's degree in Economic and Social Sciences - Political Sciences as well as a master's degree in European Studies (University of Geneva).
Hon. Yvonne Magwas
Vice-President, German Bundestag
Hon. Yvonne Magwas
She worked as a research associate, advisor and office manager at the German Bundestag from 2005 to 2013. In 2013, Magwas was elected to the German Bundestag, where she served as Chairwoman of the Women's Group within the CDU/CSU parliamentary group and as a member of the Committee on Cultural and Media Affairs; on the Environment; Building and Nuclear Safety; on Education, Research and Technology Assessment and the Budget Committee. Magwas currently serves as Vice President of the German Bundestag.
She is also Deputy Federal Chairwoman of the CDU's Women's Union and a member of the Konrad Adenauer Foundation. She is Catholic and has one child.
Dr. Catharina Boehme
Assistant Director-General, External Relations and Governance, World Health Organization
Dr. Catharina Boehme
Her portfolio includes providing secretariat support for the World Health Assembly and the WHO Executive Board, along with intergovernmental processes mandated by WHO governing bodies, including those that relate to governance reform and sustainable financing. She oversees WHO’s coordinated resource mobilization and donor relations and Organization-wide efforts to improve the predictability, flexibility and sustainability of WHO financing.
Dr Boehme is also responsible for engaging WHO in multilateral and multisectoral partnerships for advancing global health, including with civil society, the private sector and other non-state actors.
From 2021-2023, Dr Boehme served as the Director-General’s Chef de Cabinet. In this role, she drove the leadership’s strategic vision, ensuring alignment across the Organization and with Member States and partners. Prior to assuming this role, Dr Boehme was the Chief Executive Officer of FIND, the international alliance for diagnostics, for 8 years. Under her leadership, the Organization improved access to diagnosis for more than 100 million people in low- and middle-income countries and tackled major emerging challenges such as antimicrobial resistance, infectious disease outbreaks and noncommunicable diseases. She was co-convener of the Access to COVID-19 Tools Accelerator to drive equitable access to COVID-19 testing.
Early in her career, Dr Boehme worked in Ghana and the United Republic of Tanzania, focusing on clinical research to eliminate tuberculosis. She has served on several WHO and global advisory bodies, participated in two Lancet Commissions and published in several hundred peer-reviewed publications. Dr Boehme trained as a medical doctor and has diplomas in public health and management.
Prof. Dr. Axel Pries
President, World Health Summit
Prof. Dr. Axel Pries
He was general secretary of the European Society for Microcirculation (ESM) and chair of the International Liaison Committee for Microcirculation. His awards include the Malpighi Award of the ESM, the Poiseuille Gold Medal of the International Society of Biorheology and the Silver Medal of the ESC.
2015 to 2022 he was Dean of Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin and served from 2018 to 2020 as interim CEO of the Berlin Institute of Health (BIH) and as President of the Biomedical Alliance in Europe. 2021, he became President of the World Health Summit. Since 2023 he is also Prorector of the Danube Private University in Krems / Austria.
Peter Sands
Executive Director, The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria
Peter Sands
Peter was Group CEO of Standard Chartered PLC from November 2006 to June 2015, having joined the Board of Standard Chartered as Group CFO in May 2002.
Prior to joining Standard Chartered, Peter was a Senior Partner at McKinsey & Co. Peter has served on various boards and commissions, including the UK’s Department of Health, the World Economic Forum and the International Advisory Board of the Monetary Authority of Singapore. He is currently Chair of the Board of Cera, a digital-first home healthcare company based in the UK.
Peter graduated from Oxford University with a First Class degree in Politics, Philosophy and Economics. He also received a Master in Public Administration from Harvard University, where he was a Harkness Fellow. Peter, who grew up in Singapore and Malaysia, is married to author Betsy Tobin and has four children.
Dr. Faustine Ndugulile
Member of Parliament, Tanzania
Dr. Faustine Ndugulile
Dr. Huma Abbasi
General Manager Health & Medical, Chevron
Dr. Huma Abbasi
She began her career at Chevron in a lead role in Occupational Health and has successfully managed Americas, Europe, Eurasia, Middle East and Africa regional medical portfolios, management and development of the H&M Center of Excellence (COE), leading the deployment and implementation of Operational Excellence Management System and working in central advisory and regional positions in the U.S., Asia Pacific, Africa, Middle East and Pakistan regions.
She also facilitated the development and implementation of Health, Environment and Safety Programs and developed tools and processes to help regions attain superior performance. She has worked in many countries around the globe on prevention and treatment of infectious diseases with a focus on tuberculosis, hepatitis and HIV/AIDS.
She completed her degree in Medicine from University of Karachi, has a Fellowship in Specialized Pathology & Hematology and Master’s in Public Health from UC Berkeley.
Rt. Hon. Helen Clark
Former Prime Minister, New Zealand
Former Administrator, UNDP
Rt. Hon. Helen Clark
Helen served two terms as Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and as Chair of the United Nations Development Group from 2009-2017.
Earlier, Helen taught in the Political Studies Department of the University of Auckland, from which she had graduated with BA and MA (Hons) degrees.
Helen advocates for sustainable development, climate action, gender equality and women’s leadership, peace and justice, and action on pressing global health issues. In July 2020, she was appointed by the Director-General of the World Health Organisation as Co-Chair of the Independent Panel for Pandemic Preparedness and Response. She chairs the boards of the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative, the Partnership for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health, and other public good organisations and initiatives.
Prof. Dr. Daniela Schwarzer
Member of the Executive Board, Bertelsmann Stiftung
Prof. Dr. Daniela Schwarzer
She taught at Harvard University as a visiting professor, was director of the Europe Research Group at the German Institute for International and Security Affairs (SWP), and was a board member of the German Marshall Fund of the United States.
Dr. Magda Robalo
Co-Chair, UHC2030 Steering Committee
Dr. Magda Robalo
She spearheaded successful initiatives in her current role as President and Co-Founder of The Institute for Global Health and Development and as former Minister of Public Health, Presidential High Commissioner for the COVID-19 response in Guinea-Bissau, WHO Representative, WHO Director of Communicable Diseases and Global Managing Director of Women in Global Health.
Dr. David Reddy, PhD
Director General, IFPMA
Dr. David Reddy, PhD
David has been a Board Member of the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness (CEPI) since 2018 and serves on the Board of Malaria No More UK.
Before joining MMV, David was a Vice President at Roche, where he held corporate responsibility for Roche’s response to the 2009/2010 influenza pandemic. In this role, he led the work to develop, communicate, and implement the company’s strategy for working with governments and the WHO on pandemic preparedness, and establishing a sustainable access program.
David holds a PhD in Cellular and Molecular Biology from the University of Auckland, New Zealand and completed a post-doctoral fellowship in molecular neurobiology at the Friedrich-Miescher Institute in Basel, Switzerland.
Geordy Kitchen
Director of Product Manager, Search, Google
Geordy Kitchen
Han Steutel
President, Association of Research-based Pharmaceutical Companies (vfa)
Han Steutel
Previously, he worked as Senior Vice President and General Manager Germany for the research-based pharmaceutical company Bristol-Myers Squibb. Steutel started his career in 1987 at AstraZeneca in the Netherlands before moving to Bristol-Myers Squibb in 1999.
Prior to being appointed General Manager of the company in Germany in 2008, Han Steutel worked as General Manager for the Dutch headquarters of Bristol-Myers Squibb for five years.
Han Steutel serves on the Präsidium of BDI (Bundesverband der Deutschen Industrie) and is a member of the Board of Directors of the American Chamber of Commerce (AmCham).
Nicola Bedlington
Chair, Global Patient Think Thank
Former Secretary General of European Patients Forum (EPF)
Nicola Bedlington
Nicola now runs Millwater Partners , a small consultancy based in Vienna focusing on health, engagement and sustainability and advises global health bodies such as International Society for Outcomes Research – European Chair for their 2020 Conference, Drug Information Association (DIA), World Economic Forum Health Futures Council, and International Consortium for Health Outcomes Measurement, (ICHOM).
Smitha Sadasivan
Senior Advisor, Inclusive Health Policy, Disability Rights India Foundation
Smitha Sadasivan
Apart from being a Member of the State Advisory Board for Persons with Disabilities, Govt of Tamilnadu, she carries out diverse roles including that of Senior Advisor for Inclusive Health Policy at the Disability Rights India Foundation, Advisory Group member for Civil Society Alliance for Human Rights on the Pandemic Treaty, Regional trainer for South Asia Women’s institute on Leadership & Disability (WILD) program, MIUSA, USA and a member of the National Committee for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (NCRPD) facilitated by NCPEDP, New Delhi.
Diane Langenbacher
Operating Committee, International Liver Cancer Movement
Diane Langenbacher
Her research interests are patient-reported outcomes, evidence-based patient advocacy with a special interest in translating chronic diseases (liver, metabolic) into a language that allows policy discussion with key decision makers in different health care settings (local, national, regional, and global). She is author/co-author of many papers in peer-reviewed international and national journals. In her career she held numerous presentations and meetings with representatives of governments, politicians, and health care decision makers.
Diane is a passionate patient advocacy professional with 25 years’ experience in the healthcare business, which made her a true believer in individuals, their capabilities and the strong positive impact of empowerment. She had the privilege contributing to numerous policy and advocacy projects and initiatives with a specific focus on sustainable, long-term visions.
She is involved in several national and international patient centric research projects in the field of liver cancer, MASLD/MASH and PBC. She serves as member of the operating committee of the International Liver Cancer Movement (ILCM).
Dr. Michel Kazatchkine, M.D.
Global Commission on Drug Policy, Commissioner
Dr. Michel Kazatchkine, M.D.
In 2007, Professor Kazatchkine was elected Executive Director of the Global Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, a position in which he served until March 2012. Between 2012 and 2017, Professor Kazatchkine served as the UN Secretary General’s Special Envoy on HIV/AIDS in Eastern Europe and Central Asia.
Since 2018, he is the Special Advisor to the Joint UN Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) for Eastern Europe and Central Asia. He is also a Senior Fellow with the Global Health Centre of the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies, and a member of the Global Commission on Drug Policy.
Judy Chang
Executive Director, International Network of People who Use Drugs (INPUD)
Judy Chang
Kiti Kajana-Phillips
Program Manager for the Advancing Global Drug Policy Reform, Open Society Foundations
Kiti Kajana-Phillips
In the lead-up to the UN High-Level Meeting on Non-Communicable Diseases, she served as a bridge between civil society organizations and UN Missions and agencies. Kiti holds a BSc in Biology, a BA in Spanish from the University of South Carolina, and an MPH with a focus on global health from Emory University.
Dr. Tamara Prinsenberg
Advocacy and Policy Manager, AIDS Healthcare Foundation - Europe Bureau
Dr. Tamara Prinsenberg
Tamara started her career in humanitarian settings, where she managed HIV/STD prevention, malaria, and maternal and child health programs in Myanmar, Sudan, and Angola. She later expanded her focus to research in burns, leprosy, and hepatitis C. This experience in both fieldwork and research has provided her with a deep understanding of global health challenges and a commitment to improving health outcomes for vulnerable populations.
Dr. Prinsenberg holds a PhD in Medicine from the University of Amsterdam, a Master of Public Health from La Trobe University in Melbourne, and a Master of Science in Medical Biology from the University of Amsterdam. She is also a registered epidemiologist, further reinforcing her expertise in the analysis and management of health-related data to inform policy decisions.
Anton Basenko
Global Fund
Anton Basenko
After many failed attempts at getting clean, in 2003 Anton joined a Global Fund-financed harm reduction programme, thanks to which he found out he was HIV and hepatitis C positive. In 2004, Anton became one of the first patients of Global Fund-financed opioid substitution therapy in Ukraine.
It was then that he saw his life turn around. In 2005, Anton started antiretroviral therapy (ART), and in 2017 he was cured of hepatitis C.
Now, Anton is married and has become a father, and is an ardent advocate on behalf of people living with HIV (PLHIV) and people who use drugs (PUD).
Hon. Gisela Scaglia
UNITE Global Board Member, Chapter Chair, Latin America & The Caribbean
Vice-Governor, Santa Fe, Argentina
Hon. Gisela Scaglia
From 2017 to 2021, she served as Co-Chair for Latin America of the Global TB Caucus and joined UNITE in 2018, now serving as a Chapter Chair for Latin America & Caribbean on the Global Board. Furthermore she chairs the Steering Committee for the Digital Health Hub within the network.
Hon. Sonia Sidhu
UNITE Global Board Member, Chapter Chair, North America
Member of Parliament, Canada
Hon. Sonia Sidhu
Before entering politics, she dedicated nearly two decades to the healthcare field, which fueled her passion for advocating ongoing improvements to the healthcare system. In her role as a Member of Parliament, she has had the privilege of serving on the Standing Committee on Health, where she contributed to shaping policies on Universal Childcare, Dental Care, Mental Health, and the COVID-19 response.
Additionally, as the Vice-Chair of the Standing Committee on the Status of Women, Sonia has worked to empower women and youth by bringing the voices of her city to the committee. One cause that is particularly close to her heart is championing the diabetes community across Canada. As the chair of the All-Party Diabetes Caucus, she has represented Canada internationally, and her Private Members Bill led to the creation of the National Framework for Diabetes, benefiting millions of Canadians.
Hon. Andrew Ullmann, M.D.
UNITE Global Board Member, Chapter Chair, Western & Central Europe
Member of Parliament, Germany
Hon. Andrew Ullmann, M.D.
He has an Infectious Diseases background from Harvard Medical School and trained in hematology and oncology at the University of Mainz. Ullmann is a full professor of Infectious Diseases at the Julius-Maximilian University of Wuerzburg, where he was also elected to the City Council.
Dr. Mariam Jashi, M.D.
UNITE Global Board Member, Chapter Chair, Eastern Europe & Central Asia, Georgia
CEO, Global Sepsis Alliance
Dr. Mariam Jashi, M.D.
She is the Global Board Member of the UNITE Parliamentarians’ Network, Advisory Board Chair of Tbilisi Medical Academy, and Secretary General of Medical Women’s International Association.
Her earlier experience includes 12 years of UNICEF and UNAIDS health program management and technical expertise to GAVI, The World Bank, and other international agencies.
Mariam is the Mason Fellow of Harvard Kennedy School.
Hon. Akua Dansua
UNITE Global Board Member, Chapter Chair, Western & Central Africa, Ghana
Hon. Akua Dansua
Dr. Amar Patnaik
UNITE Global Board Member, Chapter Chair, India
Dr. Amar Patnaik
His academic qualifications include a bachelor’s degree in Physics from St. Stephens college at Delhi University, an MBA in Finance and Systems from Xavier’s Institute of Management, Bhubaneswar, and Master’s programme in public management from the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, Singapore and the Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University.
Hon. Ibtissame Azzaoui
UNITE Global Board Member, Chapter Chair, Middle East & North Africa, Morocco
Hon. Ibtissame Azzaoui
During her mandate, she served as a permanent member of the Foreign Affairs Committee. In 2021, she became a city councilor.
Dr. AZZAOUI holds a PhD degree in Economic Sciences and Management. Her PhD thesis was entitled: «The Moroccan Parliamentary Diplomacy in Africa : A New Approach of Strategic Governance».
In 2024, she won the National Prize for Studies and Research on Parliamentary Work. She is an Engineer in IT Management, graduated from EHTP and École Centrale Paris. She is founder and also member of some important international NGOs and actively involved in several social, academic and cultural projects in Morocco and abroad.
Hon. Liliana Tanguy
Member of Parliament, France
Hon. Liliana Tanguy
Hon. Amira Saber
Member of Parliament, Egypt
Hon. Amira Saber
Amira is the co-presiding officer of the Global young MP initiative and representing the Region of Middle East and North Africa in the Young Parliamentarians steering Committee of the World Bank and she is also a member of Munich Security Conference Women Parliamentarians Program.
Amira is currently pursuing her DBA from Swiss School of Management and a professional Development Certificate of Parliamentary Governance at McGill University. She also holds an MA in Development Studies from the University of Sussex where she was awarded the Chevening scholarship, an MBA from ESLSCA Business School, and a BSc in Biochemistry from Egypt.
Dr. Éctor-Jaime Ramirez Barba, M.D.
Member of Parliament, Mexico
Dr. Éctor-Jaime Ramirez Barba, M.D.
He has served as Secretary of Health on two occasions and Secretary of Social Development of the State of Guanajuato. He has been a State and Federal Legislator, and is currently a Federal Deputy, and serves as Secretary of the Health Commission and of the Transparency and Anticorruption Commission, and as a member of the Social Security Commission.
He has been a member of UNITE since 2022. He is also an Elected Candidate as Federal Deputy for the National Action Party for the period 2024-2027.
Hon. Njume Peter Ambang
Member of Parliament, Cameroon
Hon. Njume Peter Ambang
Founder and coordinator of the parliamentary caucus for the mobilization of domestic finance for the improvement of health in Cameroon.
Vice President of the African parliamentary coalition for the elimination of malaria.
Founder and president of the parliamentary network on the implementation of the sustainable development goals with emphasis on health and education. Member and rapporteur of the sub regional network for the fight against malnutrition.
Hon. Daniel Molokela-Tsiye
Member of Parliament, Zimbabwe
Hon. Daniel Molokela-Tsiye
He is also a public health advocate who has been also been actively involved in coordinating the pan African civil society networks especially those focusing on HIV and AIDS.
Hon. Sophia Moermond
Member of Parliament, Australia
Hon. Sophia Moermond
Dr. Allal Amraoui, M.D.
Member of Parliament, Morocco
Dr. Allal Amraoui, M.D.
A member of the Istiqlal party, he has been a member of the municipal council since 2003 and served as the First Deputy Mayor of Fez from 2009 to 2015. Since 2016, he has represented Fez as a Member of Parliament, where he served as Vice-President of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Moroccan Parliament and was a member of the Moroccan delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, holding the presidency from 2016 to 2021.
He is currently a member of the European Network of Parliamentarians for a Healthy Environment.
Hon. Majda Alfallah
Member of Parliament, Libya
Hon. Majda Alfallah
Dr. Alfallah also held leadership positions in the National Center of Disease Control and served as a researcher on public health issues. She holds multiple degrees, including in public health, political sciences,and Islamic studies, and has collaborated with international organizations like the WHO.
Hon. Serhii Kuzminykh
Member of Parliament, Ukraine
Hon. Serhii Kuzminykh
Senator Hugo Jesús Rasetto
Senator, Santa Fe Province, Argentina
Senator Hugo Jesús Rasetto
In the 1990s, he began as the communal president of his small town, Salto Grande, which has just over 2,000 inhabitants. The town is located in the Pampa Húmeda, one of the most fertile regions in the world.
He is a lawyer and has worked in several local institutions. He was a member of his town’s hospital and of the committees that built the nursing home and the school cafeteria.
Sen. Hamida Kibwana
Senator, Kenya
Sen. Hamida Kibwana
She passionately advocates for the rights of all citizens, with a particular focus on women, girls, and marginalized communities. She has a Bachelor of Commerce Degree and a background in Business Administration, which complements her extensive practical experience. Additionally, she is the Chairperson of the Kenya Women Senators Association, a women's leader's caucus in the Senate.
She is a Member of the Committee on Health, Justice, Legal and Human Rights, and the County Public Investment and Special Funds Committee in the Senate. She is also actively engaged as a Mental Health Advocate and a climate champion in the Parliamentary Caucus on Climate Action.
Hon. Pastor Vera Bejarano
Member of Parliament, Paraguay
Hon. Pastor Vera Bejarano
He is currently vice-leader of the ‘A’ Bench of the Partido Liberal radical auténtico, as well as Chair of the Permanent Advisory Committee of Indigenous Peoples. During his years as a member of parliament, he was president of various committees (Rural Welfare, Parliamentary Front against Hunger and Malnutrition, Parliamentary Front for the Fight against Tuberculosis, and Environment).
In 2023 he was elected co-president of the Parliamentary Front of the Americas against Tuberculosis, for his outstanding legislative management and humanitarian commitment, participating in global and regional high-level meetings with the aim of eradicating this disease. In previous years he served as mayor of the municipality of San Pedro and joined the faculty at the Universidad del Norte, as well as holding management positions at the same university.
Pastor Vera Bejarano has been a member of UNITE since 2022.
Hon. Jean-François MBAYE
Former Member of Parliament, France
Chief of Staff, City Mayor, Paris
Hon. Jean-François MBAYE
Holder of a 3rd cycle in medical and medico-social law, he was born in Senegal. He was a member of the 15th legislature of the French Parliament from 2017 to 2022.
Before his political career, he worked as a lawyer at ONIAM (National Office for Compensation for Medical Accidents) on behalf of the Ministry of Health in France, dealing with cases related to medical accidents and nosocomial infections, including post-transfusion HIV/HCV contamination and mandatory vaccination regimes.
He is also a Lecturer in Bioethics Law at the University of Paris VIII, in Master II. He is currently working in a local authority as Chief of Staff of the City Mayor. He is also Vice-President of an association of Local Elected Officials Against Malaria
Hon. Sabrina Sebaihi
Member of Parliament, France
Hon. Sabrina Sebaihi
In 2023, she initiated the launch of a trans-partisan group within the National Assembly on obesity, with the aim of changing legislation on this public health issue.
Hon. Eleonore Caroit
Member of Parliament, France
Hon. Eleonore Caroit
Deeply committed to the fight against malnutrition, she is the Secretary of the Commission of Inquiry on France's loss of food sovereignty, Co-Rapporteur of the information mission on food issues, and a full member of the Board of Directors of the French Development Agency. She will lead the parliamentary delegation within the France team responsible for N4G follow-up.
Hon. Guillaume Gouffier-Valente
Member of Parliament, France
Hon. Guillaume Gouffier-Valente
To mark Vaccination Week in 2024, he launched an appeal to encourage governments around the world to take action in favour of vaccine equity, in particular by replenishing the resources of Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance.
Prof. Luis Sambo, M.D.
Former Minister of Health, Angola
Former Director, World Health Organization, Regional Office for Africa
Prof. Luis Sambo, M.D.
Hon. Benson Phiri
Member of Parliament, Malawi
Hon. Benson Phiri
Hon. Vinera Raimbachaeva
Member of Parliament, Kyrgyz Republic
Hon. Vinera Raimbachaeva
Dr. José Ignacio Echániz Salgado
UNITE Member, Spain
Dr. José Ignacio Echániz Salgado
He is currently member of the board, senior advisor, and consultant in different councils, professional and academic projects, and an active lecturer in health and technology.
He was Chief Health Advisor in the Madrid City Council, and Minister of Health of Madrid, he was also Minister of Health and Social Affairs of the Region of Castilla-La Mancha, Spain, and National Legislator responsible for the area of Health. He has been member for eight years of the Interterritorial Council of the National Health System. He was the Chairperson of the IPU Standing Committee on Peace and International Security in Geneva and World Vice-President of the IPU Geneva.
Former Auditor and Consultant in Andersen Consulting (Accenture), and President of the World Health Commission (AGH) of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU).
Dr. Fauzia Khan
Member of Parliament, India
Dr. Fauzia Khan
As the National President of the Women's Wing of the Nationalist Congress Party (SharadChandra Pawar) and a Member of Parliament in the Rajya Sabha, she has been instrumental in shaping policies and legislation that impact the nation. Dr. Khan has a rich political background spanning over two decades.
She has also been a two-time M.L.C., i.e., a member of the Legislative Council, the upper house of Maharashtra Legislature. As the first Muslim woman in the state to serve as a minister in the Maharashtra government, Dr. Khan has been a role model for women from minority communities.
She served as Minister for General Administration, Education, Health, and Women and Child Development, where she initiated several progressive reforms to improve the state's governance and welfare system. Further, she is also a Member of Maharashtra State Board Of Waqf.
Dr. Sara Cerdas, M.D.
UNITE Member, Portugal
Dr. Sara Cerdas, M.D.
She served as a member of the Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety (ENVI) and as S&D coordinator of the Sub-Committee on Public Health (SANT). Sara also held the position of vice-president of the Special Committee on Beating Cancer (BECA) and was the S&D coordinator of the Special Committee on COVID-19 (COVI).
Her key contributions include leading the first Eupean Parliament's report on Mental Health, negotiating the European Health Data Space Regulation, and the EU4Health programme. Throughout her mandate, she was consistently ranked among the most influential MEPs in health policy and was nominated as MEP of the Mandate.
Sara holds a master’s degree in Medicine from the University of Lisbon, a postgraduate degree in Traveler’s Medicine from NOVA University Lisbon, and a master’s in Public Health from Umeå University. She is currently focused on providing more evidence for policymakers and politicians in all areas, with a special focus on the Health in all policies approach.
Prof. Akaki Zoidze
UNITE Member, Georgia
Prof. Akaki Zoidze
In a high-level policymaker's capacity, he was the Deputy State (Prime) Minister of Georgia in 2001- 2003, and later as the elected Member of Parliament and Chair of the Healthcare and Social Issues Committee of the Parliament of Georgia, between 2016-2019.
He was responsible for overseeing the health and social sector reforms in Georgia and adoption of a package of groundbreaking new generation tobacco control legislation, for which he received the WHO European Region’s World No Tobacco Day award in 2018.
Dr. Zoidze has more than 20 years of experience in international health policy as a consultant and advisor to the multilateral and bilateral development partners and actively participated in global and national public health initiatives and advocacy and health policy development and implementation efforts in fifteen Eastern Europe and Central Asia countries, including the programs directedcontrol of HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis C, TB.
Dr. Orjola Pampuri, PhD
Member of Parliament, Albania
Dr. Orjola Pampuri, PhD
Dr. Valentina Buliga
UNITE Member, Moldova
Dr. Valentina Buliga
Hon. Sobita Gautam
Member of Parliament, Nepal
Hon. Sobita Gautam
Hon. Maria José Plaza
UNITE Member, Ecuador
Hon. Maria José Plaza
Currently, she is President of a family business and works as a political analyst.
Hon. Margot Palacios Huaman
Congresswoman, Peru
Hon. Margot Palacios Huaman
She has chaired the Commission of Andean, Amazonian and Afro-Peruvian Peoples, Environment and Ecology and the Investigative Commission of the oil spill of the oil company Repsol, issued a detailed report concluding the responsibility of the ecological disaster of the multinational company Repsol, for its sanctions before the judicial jurisdiction,
Ambassador Claudio Marte González
UNITE Member, Bolivia
Ambassador Claudio Marte González
He holds a degree in Law and other in Business Administration, a Master's degree in International Relations from the Pontificia Universidad Católica Madre y Maestra, and a Master's degree in Administrative and Municipal Law from the University of Castilla-La Mancha, as well as a Specialisation in Political Management of Local Governments from the Unión Iberoamericana de Municipalista de España.
He joined UNITE in 2023.