MSF South Asia Holds 2025 Health and Humanity Summit in Kathmandu

Kathmandu: Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) South Asia hosted the 3rd Health and Humanity Summit in Kathmandu, addressing the growing crisis in global humanitarian and healthcare systems. The event, themed “Beyond the Aid Crisis: Shared Responsibilities in a Fractured International Order,” brought together over 180 participants, including public health experts, civil society actors, legal scholars, and humanitarian practitioners.

The Summit focused on three main themes: the crisis of humanitarian legitimacy, governance of reproductive health in conflict and crisis, and local resilience through South-to-South solidarity. Discussions highlighted the erosion of neutrality, legal protections, and trust in humanitarian systems, while exploring emerging models of care rooted in community leadership and feminist advocacy.

Opening the Summit, Dr. Farhat Mantoo, Executive Director of MSF South Asia, stressed: “Health is not a political option, it is a fundamental human right. MSF remains committed to delivering principled, patient-centered care, standing alongside communities forced to the margins.”

Dr. Gopal Krishna Siwakoti, Founding President of INHURED International, Nepal, delivered the keynote titled “Withdrawal of Shared Global Solidarity.” He warned, “Global instability fueled by conflict, inequality, and the rapid erosion of shared solidarity is crippling humanitarian action, especially in the world’s most vulnerable societies. Shrinking civic space and disrupted aid flows are compounding risks for marginalized communities.”

The Summit concluded with calls for inclusive, rights-based approaches, empowered local leadership, and renewed global partnerships to restore trust and ensure collective action in humanitarian work.