The Centre for Trade and Investment Law (CTIL), Indian Institute of Foreign Trade, in collaboration with the Centre for Justice, Law and Society (CJLS) at Jindal Global Law School (JGLS), recently organized the International Symposium on Health Governance in a Political Landscape: Interplay of Health Law, Society, and Political Economy.

Dr. V.K. Paul, Member of NITI Aayog, set the tone with an inaugural address, stressing the significance of access to medicine and the right to health. Reflecting on India's leadership role during the COVID-19 pandemic, Dr. Paul emphasized the need for inspiring leadership in health policy. The opening remarks were delivered by Prof. C. Raj Kumar, Vice Chancellor of O.P. Jindal Global University & Dean of JGLS, along with welcome addresses by Prof. James J. Nedumpara, Head & Professor of CTIL, and Prof. Dipika Jain, Director of CJLS.

Hon’ble Mr. Justice Ravindra Bhat, Former Judge of the Supreme Court of India, chaired the plenary session on "Economic Policies, TRIPS and Healthcare," discussing the intersection of public interest, pharmaceutical patents, and access to healthcare. The session highlighted the importance of innovative policy solutions and collaboration to ensure affordable access to medicines.

The second plenary session explored the role of research and publication in shaping public health policy. Panellists discussed the influence of economic interests and conflicts of interest in health policy formulation, emphasizing transparency.

A special address by Dr. Sharmila Mary Joseph, Principal Secretary of Kerala's Local Self-Government and Women & Child Development Department, underscored the role of local bodies in addressing healthcare challenges effectively.

The symposium featured thematic sessions on diverse health governance issues, with contributions from esteemed speakers including Prof. (Dr.) B.S. Chimni, Prof. (Dr.) S. G. Sreejith, Dr. Sylvia Karpagam, Prof. Leila Choukroune, and others.

The event concluded with a special address by Dr. Anup Wadhawan, former Commerce Secretary, Government of India, and a distinguished lecture by Prof. Lorand Bartels on “International Economic Law and Right to Health”. Prof. Bartels emphasized health as a fundamental human right within international law, citing challenges in policy implementation.

The Symposium provided a platform for scholars to present their research articles, which will be refined for publication in a Special Issue of Jindal Global Law Review. Prof. James J. Nedumpara delivered the concluding observations, highlighting the symposium's contributions to understanding health governance dynamics.