Every World Polio Day (observed on October 24) is a time to pause and reflect on one of the greatest public-health achievements…
Walking the Talk: women’s voices in equity-focused panels
Authors: Manish Barik, Prabhu Kalyan Das, Debasini Parida and Sushree Nibedita Panda
The 2025 World Health Summit (WHS) Regional Meeting, held from April 25–27 at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi, India convened more than 5,000 delegates from over 60 countries under the theme “Scaling Access to Ensure Health Equity.” Hosted by NIMS University and co-hosted by Manipal Academy of Higher Education and Ashoka University, the meeting wove eight thematic topics with more than 160 sessions designed to tackle the region’s most pressing health challenges(1).
Among these, 21 sessions (Panel discussions and workshops) explicitly bore the word “equity” in their titles, signaling that equity was not just an outcome to pursue but a lens through which every discussion should be viewed, provided that participants themselves uphold and practice equity throughout the discourse. As we flip through the summit booklet to see who was allowed to speak, chair, and moderate the equity-focused sessions, a noticeable disparity stood out that women were notably under-represented in far too many of these equity-focused sessions (2,3).
Across the 21 equity-themed panels, women accounted for just 42% of speakers (48 out of 113 speakers) that didn’t make up even half of the panelists. In the “Digital Mental Health at the Margins” session, a single woman speaker joined five men; similarly, the “Global Health Equity through Diplomacy” panel featured one woman against four men. Even in digital health’s scaling discussions and only one of three speakers was a woman (3). Chairs and moderators who framed and steered these conversations fared somewhat better but still have imbalances in most of the equity-focused sessions. Women chaired and moderated 56% (18/32 members) of the equity panels, indicating progress in leadership roles. if women lead discussions that are populated predominantly by male voices, the net effect remains skewed.
Why does this matter?
Credibility. Audiences expect that discussions on fairness and inclusion will themselves be fair and inclusive. A panel on health equity that sidelines women undermines its own voices and may alienate participants. Second,
Role modelling. Visible women experts inspire emerging female researchers, practitioners, and policy-makers especially in fields like digital health and health diplomacy where gender gaps persist(4).
Solution richness. Equity challenges intersect deeply with gendered experiences; diverse panels generate more nuanced, effective strategies than homogenous ones(5,6).
To truly “walk the talk,” future WHS meetings and any equity-focused convenings should adopt three measures.
First, set a minimum gender target: at least 40% women speakers, chairs, and moderators in every equity session, viewed as a floor rather than a ceiling.
Second, mandate roster transparency by requiring full lists to be published publicly at least two weeks before the event, inviting real-time feedback and corrections.
Third, issue post-event equity scorecards summarizing gender and other diversity metrics by session, celebrating successes and identifying areas needing improvement.
The 2025 WHS Regional Meeting in New Delhi showcased an ambitious agenda for health justice. Yet achieving real impact demands that equity be practiced in every panel room, at every podium, and throughout every Q&A. By setting clear targets, ensuring transparency, and publicly tracking progress, future meetings can not only discuss equity they can live it, driving more credible, inclusive, and impactful change for all.
Author Bios
Manish Barik is a public health researcher from India. Academically, he has a masters degree in public health and has expertise in health systems, epidemiology, and policy research. He has worked with The George Institute for Global Health, Jhpiego, and the Population Council, with a focus on health equity, mixed-methods research, and global health implementation in LMICs.
Prabhu Kalyan Das is a public health trainee at ICMR–Regional Medical Research Centre, Bhubaneswar, India, currently pursuing an MPH. His research interests include disease surveillance, diversity in research, and field-based support to public health programs in Odisha.
Debasini Parida is a Project Research Scientist-I at ICMR–Regional Medical Research Centre, Bhubaneswar, India. With a public health degree and a nursing background, she leads a snakebite care project supported by NIHR RSTMH early career grant award and works on GIS-based risk mapping and community surveillance. She specializes in infectious disease epidemiology and maternal health.
Sushree Nibedita Panda is a public health researcher with experience in academic and development sectors. She is currently a Research Assistant in The Resilience Collaborative unit at The George Institute for Global Health, India. She supports the design, production, and dissemination of research related to health worker resilience and wellbeing. She is engaged in evidence synthesis and empirical research conducted by The Resilience Collaborative (TRC), and is responsible for conducting research and maintaining clear communication with the host team and project partners. Sushree has co-authored peer-reviewed publications has field experience with WHO’s immunization and NTD programs. She is passionate about building resilient primary healthcare systems and addressing neglected health needs in vulnerable populations.
References
1. World Health Summit [Internet].
2. WHS Reginal Meeting 2025 [Internet].
4. Sullivan S, Posada A, Hawkins M, Higueras G. Where are the female experts? Perceptions about the absence of female presenters at a Digital Health Conference in Bolivia. mHealth. 2020;6:37.
5. One More Time: Why Diversity Leads To Better Team Performance.