By Neena Bhandari
Sydney, 10.10.2025 (SciDev.Net): As the US withdraws from the World Health Organization and cuts overseas aid, regional partnerships are critical to safeguarding the health of member countries in a region where climate change and chronic diseases loom large.
These are some of the reflections of the WHO’s Western Pacific regional director, Saia Ma’u Piukala, on the health challenges facing the region and measures needed to overcome them, as he heads to the World Health Summit (12-14 October) in Berlin (Germany). He will join other global health leaders to discuss how health governance and financing models must adapt to the new reality of dwindling foreign assistance before the Regional Committee meeting in Fiji (20-24 October 2025).
In a written interview, he talks about the crucial role of philanthropic partnerships, why multilateralism in health is more essential than ever, and the threat posed by misinformation and disinformation to public health.