TheraTalks Episode 6 Explores Global Health Governance, Geopolitics & Access to Health Technologies with Daniel López
August 31, 2026 – Thera Health Policy & Access is pleased to announce the release of Episode 6 of TheraTalks, the interview series dedicated to engaging healthcare leaders, policymakers, regulators, industry innovators, and thought leaders in meaningful conversations about the issues shaping the future of healthcare in Latin America and beyond.
This latest episode features a conversation between José Luis Cárdenas Tomažič, Founder & Managing Director of Thera Health Policy & Access, and Daniel López, Senior Strategic Advisor on Global Health Law & Regulatory Policy at Thera Health Policy & Access, based in Washington, D.C.
As healthcare becomes increasingly intertwined with geopolitics, international trade, industrial policy, and national security, the global health architecture is undergoing profound transformation. In this episode, José Luis and Daniel examine how these shifts are reshaping the future of global health governance, influencing access to health technologies, and creating new opportunities and challenges for governments, international organizations, and life sciences companies worldwide.
A central theme of the discussion is the evolving nature of multilateralism and global health governance. Daniel argues that global health governance is not disappearing, nor is it necessarily in crisis. Rather, it is undergoing a period of transformation. While countries are increasingly relying on regional and bilateral solutions to address healthcare challenges, global institutions continue to play a critical role in coordinating responses, establishing norms, and creating platforms for international cooperation.
The conversation explores the future role of the World Health Organization (WHO) in this changing environment. Despite growing financial pressures and ongoing political challenges, Daniel emphasizes that the Organization remains indispensable to the global health system. While budget constraints may require greater prioritization of programs and technical assistance activities, the WHO is expected to retain its essential normative, convening, and coordinating functions.
Another important topic addressed during the interview is the opportunity for greater regional cooperation in Latin America. The speakers discuss how reductions in international financing and increasing geopolitical uncertainty can serve as a catalyst for stronger regional coordination. Daniel highlights the technical capabilities already present across the region, including institutions such as ANVISA (Brazil), COFEPRIS (Mexico), INVIMA (Colombia), and Chile’s Institute of Public Health (ISP). The challenge, he notes, is often not the absence of technical expertise, but rather the lack of mechanisms and incentives to leverage those capabilities collectively.
The discussion also examines the important role of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) in supporting regional integration and healthcare cooperation. José Luis and Daniel review longstanding initiatives such as PAHO’s Revolving Fund and Strategic Fund, as well as broader efforts aimed at strengthening regulatory capacity, improving access to medicines, and advancing regulatory convergence across the region.
A major focus of the episode is the growing relationship between geopolitics and access to health technologies. Daniel explains how medicines, vaccines, medical technologies, manufacturing capacity, supply chains, pathogen samples, and health data are increasingly being treated as strategic assets. As a result, decisions traditionally viewed through a healthcare lens are now frequently influenced by foreign policy priorities, industrial strategies, economic competition, and national security considerations.
The speakers discuss how geopolitical developments can directly affect patient access to innovation through export restrictions, industrial policies, technology-transfer requirements, tariffs, and supply-chain disruptions. This evolving environment requires policymakers and industry leaders alike to expand their perspectives beyond traditional regulatory and market access considerations.
The interview also provides an in-depth discussion of the ongoing negotiations surrounding the Pathogen Access and Benefit-Sharing System (PABS) within the framework of the WHO Pandemic Agreement. Daniel explains how these negotiations seek to establish new rules governing the sharing of pathogen materials and genetic sequence information, while also defining how benefits arising from their use are distributed among participating countries and stakeholders.
According to Daniel, the implications of these negotiations extend well beyond governments. Research institutions, biotechnology companies, pharmaceutical manufacturers, diagnostics developers, and other organizations working with pathogens and genomic information may be directly affected by future obligations concerning transparency, data sharing, access, manufacturing participation, and benefit-sharing mechanisms.
The discussion concludes with an examination of the strategic implications for the private sector. Daniel emphasizes that global health governance should no longer be viewed solely as a topic for regulatory affairs departments. Instead, organizations should increasingly incorporate geopolitical analysis, international health policy developments, supply chain resilience, and pandemic preparedness considerations into broader corporate risk management and strategic planning processes.
Reflecting on the discussion, José Luis highlighted the growing importance of anticipating change in an increasingly interconnected world.
“Access to medicines, vaccines, technologies, and healthcare innovation is increasingly influenced by factors that extend beyond traditional healthcare policy. Understanding the intersection between global health governance, geopolitics, regulation, and international cooperation will be essential for organizations seeking to navigate uncertainty and improve health outcomes in the years ahead,” said José Luis Cárdenas Tomažič.
Watch the full interview here:
Watch TheraTalks Episode 6
About the Guest
Daniel López serves as Senior Strategic Advisor on Global Health Law & Regulatory Policy at Thera Health Policy & Access. Based in Washington, D.C., his work focuses on the intersection of international health law, global health governance, regulatory policy, pandemic preparedness, access to health technologies, and international cooperation. He advises organizations on emerging policy and regulatory developments and their potential impact on governments, healthcare systems, life sciences companies, and global health stakeholders.
About Thera Health Policy & Access
Thera Health Policy & Access is a specialized consultancy and Think & Do Tank focused on health policy, market access, healthcare regulation, public affairs, strategic intelligence, and healthcare system transformation. Through evidence-based analysis, stakeholder engagement, and multidisciplinary expertise, Thera supports organizations in navigating complex healthcare environments and advancing sustainable solutions that improve patient access and health outcomes.
