Program of Activities

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PROVISIONAL PROGRAMME

Sunday, 1 December 2024

Arrival of delegates

Dinner provided by the Host Parliament at Feast Restaurant, Lobby Floor, Royal Orchid Sheraton Hotel & Towers

Monday, 2 December 2024

Conference moderator: Ms. Patchari Raksawong, journalist
8:30–8:45	Registration
8:45 -9:45	Opening session
	Opening cultural performance Opening remarks: H.E. Mr. Somsak Thepsutin, Minister of Public Health of Thailand Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO) (via video message) Mr. Martin Chungong, Secretary General of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) H.E. Mr. Wanmuhamadnoor Matha, President of the National Assembly and Speaker of the House of Representatives of Thailand Photo session Master of ceremony: Ms. Patchari Raksawong
Venue: Ballroom I, 2^nd Floor, Royal Orchid Sheraton Hotel & Towers
09:45-10:45	Setting the scene – Asia-Pacific: A region prone to disease outbreaks?
	The COVID-19 pandemic subjected global and country emergency preparedness to a tough stress test. No country was fully prepared in spite of the fact that a number of previous disease outbreaks had shown the risk posed by zoonotic diseases spreading from animals to humans. The Asia-Pacific region is particularly concerned due to rapid landscape, trade, consumption and demographic change. The session will provide an overview of the health security risks in the region, with a focus on infectious diseases and their complex origins, antimicrobial resistance, as well as of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and other disease outbreaks. Dialogue: Ms. Saima Wazed, WHO Regional Director for South-East Asia Ms. Khuat Thi Hai Oanh, Founder and Executive Director, Center for Support Community Development Initiatives, Viet Nam The dialogue will be followed by an interactive discussion with the audience.
Venue: Ballroom I, 2^nd Floor, Royal Orchid Sheraton Hotel & Towers
10:45-11:00	Coffee break
11:00-12:25	Session I: The global health security architecture: What implications for countries?
	No parliament and no country can prevent pandemics alone. Building on the lessons of the COVID-19 pandemic, Member States of the World Health Organization (WHO), have negotiated amendments to the International Health Regulations (IHR, 2005) and a new pandemic accord. This session will brief parliamentarians on developments in the global health security architecture and discuss the implications for countries in implementing these frameworks to better protect their populations. Setting the scene: Dr. Stella Chungong, Director, Health Security Preparedness, WHO Country perspectives: Dr. Gina Samaan, Regional Emergency Director, WHO Health Emergencies Programme and Director, Division of Health Security and Emergencies, WHO Western Pacific Regional Office Dr. Soawapak Hinjoy, D.V.M., Senior Expert, Department of Disease Control, Ministry of Public Health of Thailand Dr. Ciriaco B. Gato Jr., Member of Parliament, Chairman of the Committee on Health, House of Representatives of Philippines Dr. Mirwais Rahimzai, Technical Director, Infectious Diseases and Global Health Security, fhi360 The interventions will be followed by an interactive discussion with the audience.
Venue: Ballroom I, 2^nd Floor, Royal Orchid Sheraton Hotel & Towers
12:30-14:00	Official luncheon hosted by H.E. Mr. Mongkol Surasajja, President of the Senate of Thailand
Venue: Ballroom III, 2^nd Floor, Royal Orchid Sheraton Hotel & Towers
14:00–15:30	Session II: Leveraging parliamentary functions for health security preparedness
	Parliaments and parliamentarians play a unique role in achieving preparedness by advocating for and adopting legislation that increases emergency preparedness; ensuring preparedness and response capacities are adequately funded and flexible enough to fund a response to an unexpected health emergency; and overseeing the government’s implementation of preparedness plans. This session will present concrete examples and tools to help parliamentarians understand options for action. Participants are encouraged to share their experiences, challenges and lessons learnt. Speakers: Ms. Aleksandra Blagojevic, Programme Manager for International Development, IPU Ms. Dawn Mapatano, Global Health Security Agenda, Legal Preparedness Action Package Dr. Srinivas Tata, Director, Social Development Division, Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) Professor Emeritus Kraisid Tontisirin, former Member of the Senate of Thailand Mr. Mardani Ali Sera, Member of Parliament, Chair of the Committee for Interparliamentary Cooperation, House of Representatives of Indonesia The presentations will be followed by an interactive discussion with the audience.
Venue: Ballroom I, 2^nd Floor, Royal Orchid Sheraton Hotel & Towers
15:30–17:00	Session III: Parliamentary leadership for building trust and social cohesion
	The COVID-19 pandemic has shown the importance of social trust and leadership before and during an emergency. The session will discuss how communication and collaboration with communities can support more effective and equitable preparedness and response taking into account the needs of people more at risk of being impacted by health emergencies and pandemics. It will also address the issue of misinformation and disinformation and the role of science and evidence. Speakers: Ms. Sarah Moulds, Deputy Chair, International Parliament Engagement Network (IPEN); Associate Professor in Law, University of South Australia Ms. Santi Indra Astuti, Lecturer of the Faculty of Communication Science, Islamic University of Bandung (UNISBA), Indonesia Dr. Cholnan Srikaew, former Minister of Public Health, Member of the House of Representatives of Thailand Mr. Moemen Nader, Migration Health Officer, Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific, International Organization for Migration (IOM) Ms. Perpetua Sappa Konman, Congresswoman, Chair of the Committee on Health and Social Affairs, Congress of the Federated States of Micronesia The presentations will be followed by an interactive discussion with the audience.
Venue: Ballroom I, 2^nd Floor, Royal Orchid Sheraton Hotel & Towers
Evening	Official reception hosted by H.E. Mr. Wanmuhamadnoor Matha, President of the National Assembly and Speaker of the House of Representatives of Thailand (Participants to assemble at the lobby from 17:30 and start embarking at Royal Orchid Sheraton Hotel’s pier from 17:45)

Tuesday, 3 December 2024

09:30–11:00	Session IV: Building resilience through multistakeholder action
	The complexity of health security preparedness requires action in a number of related fields. This session will highlight the need for inclusive multistakeholder mechanisms and illustrate through concrete examples the linkages between health security and universal health coverage, climate change, and technology with a view of building more resilient communities and societies. 9:30–10:00: Introduction on what multistakeholder partnership means in the context of health security preparedness and examples of coordination mechanisms. Ms. Miriam Sangiorgio, Project Officer for Health and Development, IPU Mr. Ludy Suryantoro, Unit Head Multisectoral Engagement for Health Security, WHO Emergencies Programme
Venue: Ballroom I, 2^nd Floor, Royal Orchid Sheraton Hotel & Towers

	10:00–11:00: Breakout groups: Each breakout group will focus on a specific issue; discuss country examples; and identify concrete recommendations to advance parliamentary action. Breakout group A: Universal health coverage Strengthening health systems is required for both universal health coverage (UHC) and health security. Advancing UHC can help ensure adequate investment in public health; increased resilience for the provision of essential health services during disease outbreaks and pandemics; and greater health equity in access to health. Moderator: Dr. Rapeepong Suphanchaimat, Medical Officer, Expert Level, Division of Epidemiology, Ministry of Public Health of Thailand
Venue: Ballroom I, 2^nd Floor, Royal Orchid Sheraton Hotel & Towers
	Breakout group B: Climate change Climate change is increasing health risks by changing disease patterns and intensifying health impacts from extreme weather events and natural disasters. Climate change and health are also interrelated when it comes to air pollution, a significant health risk in the Asia-Pacific region. The One Health approach, which emphasizes the close interlinkages between the health of people, animals and the environment, is also crucial in addressing the impacts of climate-driven environmental change on public health, such as antimicrobial resistance, emerging zoonotic diseases, as well as food and water safety and security. Moderator: Mr. Afnan Ullah Khan, Senator, Parliament of Pakistan
Venue: Riverside III, 2^nd Floor, Royal Orchid Sheraton Hotel & Towers
	Breakout group C: Technology and innovation Technology and innovation, including artificial intelligence, can support surveillance systems, response capacities and communication before and during emergencies. Also, technology transfer emerged as a key challenge during the COVID-19 pandemic. Moderator: Dr. Richard Brown, Programme Officer, WHO Country Office, Thailand
10:00-11:30	Report to plenar
Venue: Riverside IV, 2nd Floor, Royal Orchid Sheraton Hotel & Towers
11.30-12.00	Closing: A shared vision for strengthening pandemic preparedness in Asia-Pacific Outcome document – Rapporteur: Ms. Kalyapat Rachitroj, Member of the House of Representatives of Thailand Online evaluation survey Closing remarks: Mr. Martin Chungong, IPU Secretary General H.E. Mr. Mongkol Surasajja, President of the Senate of Thailand
12.00-13.30	Lunch provided by the Host Parliament at Feast Restaurant, Lobby Floor, Royal Orchid Sheraton Hotel & Towers
13.30-17.00	Study visit 1. Bueng Yitho Medical and Rehabilitation Center, Pathum Thani Province OR 2. Department of Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicine, Nonthaburi Province

Wednesday, 4 December 2024

Departure of delegates