The world as we know it has permanently changed with COVID-19. Then it changed again. The global health agenda parliamentarians, scientists and development experts are dealing with as they gather at the UNITE Global Summit 2026 in Manila this week looks nothing like the one COVID-19 defined just a few years ago. The pandemic exposed how vulnerable communities were, and how limited health system’s capacity could be. The need to develop a vaccine, to find hospital beds – in existing institutions or makeshift locations – took precedence. When this phase passed, the pressing issues facing the global community, forgotten for a brief period, returned with full force
For one, the post-Covid challenges have a broader dimension and are more interconnected. Take climate change. If the recent heat wave in Europe is any indication, climate change is real, and here to stay. Yet another challenge is that with increase in lifespans, large ageing populations are tilting the demographic balance. The health care needs of this group are significantly more than that of others. When all this is placed in the context of antimicrobial resistance – which threatens advancements made by medical science – and artificial intelligence, amid inequality and lack of access to healthcare, promises and obstacles intersect at every step. Finite resources and prioritisation remain realities governments function within.
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These challenges are not confined to individual countries. They may acquire a different form or dimension in another geography, but they are present in most of the world. Moreover, they cannot be solved by one country alone. Collaboration holds the key. Collaboration is cost-effective, time-efficient, and helps in finding more accurate solutions since someone spent time in trying to find a solution
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However, the nature of collaboration has been changing, as it should. Earlier, solutions typically came in the form of aid and technical expertise from wealthy countries, flowing to poorer ones. Even though the model provided substantial gains, the conditions that perpetuate this model are no longer valid
A decisive factor in the changing environment of international cooperation is how we work together to generate knowledge and strengthen institutions so that they can develop solutions that can be adapted to different contexts. Research is no longer a luxury. It is a necessity
The Covid-19 pandemic came as a powerful reminder of this reality. Countries with stronger domestic research ecosystems were generally better able to understand emerging threats, adapt policies even as evidence evolved, and build public confidence in public health measures. Research capacity proved to be an essential component of resilience, not an academic luxury
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That has been approach of my organisation, the International Development Research Centre, a Canadian crown corporation. We have supported research to build and strengthen local capacity. I will give you an example. Being aware of the problem of flooding in the Philippines, we were keen to help find solutions to build resilience. So, we worked with the Ateneo de Manila University, building on the existing knowledge to enable coastal cities such as Metro Manila, Iloilo, and Naga to prepare for climate-related floods, typhoons, and disasters. The project mapped vulnerable populations, developed simulation models, and introduced practical innovations for people most at risk. It informed local, national, and regional disaster plans. Most importantly, it helped strengthen the already impressive local capacity in building disaster resilience.
In Thailand, IDRC helped develop the Ecohealth approach in reducing liver cancer caused by infected cyprinid fish. The research by our partners, Khon Kaen University, helped in identifying the parasites, and helped reduce infection by 50 per cent among people, and by 70 per cent among the fish
Asian context
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Asia remains a continent of multiple challenges with its development needs along with the growing incidence of cardiovascular disease, diabetes and cancer, which outweigh infectious diseases as the primary disease burden. A rapidly ageing population means the demographic dividend of a young population is declining, leading to fewer young people available for the workforce and larger budgets required for the elderly. Extreme heat, flooding, deteriorating air quality and food insecurity through much of the region are affecting the health and well-being of people.
Locally generated evidence, strong scientific institutions, and cross-border collaboration can help address these challenges. Several Asian countries have built world-class research institutions and emerged as leaders in biotechnology, digital health, artificial intelligence, and healthy ageing. As equal partners, they can help transform the future of global health
As Canada’s Crown Corporation focusing on research, we at IDRC have never believed in exporting ready-made solutions. Instead, we invest in helping researchers and institutions generate evidence that informs policies tailored to their own societies
As discussions begin in Manila, parliamentarians have an opportunity to treat research and innovation as core health infrastructure, strengthen the link between science and policy, and support locally led research that helps countries generate evidence suited to their own realities. The decisions made by governments over the next decade will determine whether health systems can withstand future global shocks or fail to deliver. True resilience will require more than emergency preparedness or larger budgets – it will depend on sustained investment in knowledge, institutions, and international scientific collaboration.
In a fragmented world, research remains one of the few spaces where countries can still build lasting partnerships and keep dialogue open and produce lasting solutions that benefit everyone
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(Dr. Kapil Kapoor is Regional Director for Asia with IDRC. A PhD in economics, he has held leadership positions at the African Development Bank and World Bank)
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