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Paper short abstract

This paper examines how overlapping crises—pandemics, economic shocks, and climate risks—worsen health inequalities in India. It highlights governance gaps, the role of AYUSH in accessible care, and calls for equitable, accountable systems that empower vulnerable populations.

Paper long abstract

In an era of polycrisis—where economic instability, geopolitical tensions, and recurring pandemics overlap—health governance in the Global South faces growing pressure. These interconnected crises don't occur in isolation; instead, they reinforce one another, placing disproportionate strain on already fragile health systems and deepening existing health inequalities. Low-income and marginalised populations are most affected, experiencing disruptions in healthcare access, higher disease burdens, and worsening social determinants of health.

This paper examines how overlapping crises such as financial shocks, COVID-19, and climate-related health risks have exposed weaknesses in global and national health governance, particularly in resource-constrained settings. It highlights how unequal financing, limited institutional capacity, and crisis-driven decision-making often prioritise short-term responses over long-term equity and system resilience. Against this backdrop, paper brings attention to the role of traditional-medicine systems in the Global South, with a specific focus on India’s AYUSH framework. During periods of crisis, AYUSH and other traditional-medicine systems have contributed to accessible, affordable, and culturally accepted healthcare, especially in rural and underserved areas where biomedical services are limited or overstretched. Their emphasis on prevention, community-level care, and locally available resources can help reduce health inequalities during complex emergencies.

The paper argues that building equitable and resilient health systems under conditions of polycrisis requires governance frameworks that recognise plural medical systems while addressing underlying power asymmetries in financing, regulation, and decision-making. Moving beyond crisis-driven interventions, it calls for health governance that centres justice, institutional accountability, and the agency of vulnerable populations in shaping health futures in the Global South.