The Department of Legal Studies, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, successfully hosted a Pre-Conference Lecture on Reimagining Global Health Law: Governance, Equity, and Innovation in a Post-Pandemic World — Insights and Lessons for South Asia on 11 November 2025 from 2.30 p.m. to 4.00 p.m. via Zoom.
The session featured two distinguished international resource persons—Dr. Muhammad Zaheer Abbas, Lecturer in Law at the Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Australia, and Mr. Kashish Aneja, Global Health Law Consultant at the O’Neill Institute for National and Global Health Law, Georgetown University, Washington D.C. The discussion was moderated by Professor Sanath Wijesinghe, Head of the Department of Legal Studies, Open University of Sri Lanka.
Dr. Abbas shared valuable insights on intellectual property law and public health, focusing on challenges faced by low- and middle-income countries in using TRIPS flexibilities, addressing the innovation gap for neglected diseases, and understanding the long-term implications of the TRIPS Waiver Proposal.
Mr. Aneja highlighted his experience in ongoing global health negotiations, including the WHO Pandemic Agreement, International Health Regulations (IHR) Amendments, and the Pathogen Access and Benefit-Sharing (PABS) Annex, emphasizing how developing nations can strengthen local legal frameworks, promote fair technology transfer, and enhance preparedness for future health emergencies.
The session fostered a dynamic exchange on the role of international organisations such as WHO, WTO, WIPO, and the UN in reshaping global health governance for equity and innovation in the Global South. The discussion also underscored critical lessons for South Asian countries, highlighting the importance of regional collaboration, capacity building, and context-sensitive legal reforms to ensure equitable access to medicines and stronger pandemic preparedness. It served as a prelude to the International Research Conference 2025 of the Open University of Sri Lanka, reflecting the Department’s commitment to promoting dialogue on globally relevant and socially responsive legal education.
