The International Risk Podcast Episode 250: The Myth of Neutrality: Global Health in a Multipolar World with Dr. Abha Saxena
This week on the podcast, we’re joined by Dr. Abha Saxena for a timely and incisive look at the geopolitics of global health. Dominic and Abha explore how vaccines, health infrastructure, and disease surveillance data are no longer just instruments of public good, but strategic tools of influence. They discuss the myth of apolitical global health, the geopolitical stakes of pandemic treaties, and how health dependencies can quietly erode national sovereignty.
Together, they examine how the COVID-19 pandemic exposed deeper ethical fault lines - from donor-driven influence at the World Health Organization to the contested politics of pathogen access and benefit sharing. As global health is increasingly entangled with national security and data control, they also reflect on the role of private tech firms, AI, and cyber threats in reshaping public health governance. This conversation is essential listening for anyone concerned with global health equity, digital sovereignty, and the future of multilateral cooperation.
Dr. Abha Saxena is one of the world’s leading experts in global bioethics and a renowned anaesthesiologist. Formerly head of global health ethics at the World Health Organization, she continues to advise research consortia, ethics committees, and governments on the intersections of science, sovereignty, and strategy. Her work spans the ethics of infectious disease outbreaks, equitable data sharing, and the risks of technological dependency in fragile health systems. She has been at the forefront of efforts to build more inclusive and just global health architectures, and continues to advocate for frameworks that foreground ethics, transparency, and global solidarity.
The International Risk Podcast is a weekly podcast for senior executives, board members, and risk advisors. In these podcasts, we speak with experts in a variety of fields to explore international relations. Our host is Dominic Bowen, Head of Strategic Advisory at one of Europe’s leading risk consulting firms. Dominic is a regular public and corporate event speaker, and visiting lecturer at several universities. Having spent the last 20 years successfully establishing large and complex operations in the world’s highest-risk areas and conflict zones, Dominic now joins you to speak with exciting guests around the world to discuss international risk.
The International Risk Podcast – Reducing risk by increasing knowledge.
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