Events

This Roundtable discussion is aimed at bringing together scholars to discuss the sociological, ethical and politico-legal aspects of health governance in the context of disasters and public health emergencies.

Over the last decade, Asia has been subjected to several major disasters that have had significant health impacts on local and regional populations. Earthquakes, tsunamis, flooding, industrial accidents, influenza outbreaks, and emerging infectious diseases, are examples of the types of major disasters that have affected the region. These incidents are expected to increase with denser populations living highly urbanised environments, climate change, rising sea levels, loss of biodiversity, deforestation, and encroaching agricultural practices. In response, many governments in Asia have implemented disaster preparedness and crisis management policies that are aimed at ensuring the health and wellbeing of affected citizens. These plans often include strategies for the relocation and compensation of populations, reconstruction and restoration of housing and public infrastructure, the imposition of travel restrictions and quarantine, decontamination efforts, animal control, and environmental protection. However, many, often unintended, problems can arise with the implementation of these strategies that can negatively impact on the health and wellbeing of vulnerable populations.

This Roundtable will interrogate these issues in a robust, open forum for discussion of governance mechanisms for the management of health -related matters in disasters. The one-day event will feature five panels that will address specific issues that have arisen in the context of recent disaster events. The panels will focus on the role of doctors in disasters and the public communication of science; the evacuation of vulnerable populations from disaster-affected areas; access to medicines; the implementation of One Health policies; and the long term management of chronic disasters. Each panel will consist of a speaker who will present a feature paper on the context-specific issues, and two discussants who will comment on the broader issues relevant to the governance of health in disaster situations. The event will finish with a plenary roundtable discussion with distinguished guests to identify possible solutions and areas for future research. The proceedings will be published in a special issue of an internationally peer-reviewed STS journal.

REGISTRATION

This event is by invitation only.
Interested participants, please contact Sharon at arios@nus.edu.sg

CONVENORS

Dr Tamra Lysaght, Asia Research Institute, NUS
Assoc Prof Gregory Clancey, Asia Research Institute, and Tembusu College, NUS