Dr. Patrick L. Osewe is a leading global expert on public health and the Chief of the Health Sector Group at the Asian Development Bank (ADB). In close collaboration with the Health Sector Committee, he currently leads the application of evidence-based and innovative approaches to address priority and emerging health issues in Asia and the Pacific ¾focusing on the nexus of Universal Health Coverage, pandemic preparedness, education, social protection, climate change and finance. Since the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), he has provided leadership and guidance in the implementation of ADB’s $20 billion commitment to respond to COVID-19 and $9 billion for Developing Member Countries (DMCs) to obtain and deploy COVID-19 vaccines. His work related to COVID-19 includes providing prioritizing investments, technical assistance to operational teams and DMCs, convening global partners to reach consensus on key implementation issues, and mobilizing leading vaccine manufacturers and other private sector firms to support a range of preparedness and response activities throughout the region. Patrick is also collaborating with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the Japan Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare and DMCs to establish the ASEAN Regional Center on Public Health Emergencies and Emerging Diseases. He is also collaborating with the leading global experts on climate change and health to highlight the impact of climate change on public health.
Prior to his time at ADB, Patrick was a Global Lead for the World Bank’s Healthy Societies. In this role, he led a global effort to address health security, focusing on pandemic preparedness and response, financing, and multi-sectoral collaboration. To accelerate this health security agenda, he was part of the core team that prepared the first strategic plan for the Africa Centers for Disease Control, convened a team of high-level experts¾from government, the World Health Organization (WHO), development agencies, and donors¾to develop a framework and tools for assessing the financing status of pandemic preparedness. He also provided extensive strategic leadership in the design and implementation of health financing and health systems reforms.
With more than 25 years of experience as a global leader in health, Patrick has previously worked as Senior Health Advisor for USAID in Southern Africa and a Senior Epidemiologist for the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention where he developed a public health framework for Olympics Games. He has a proven track record of bringing countries and multiple sectors together¾including governments, development partners, and the private sector¾to achieve cross-cutting health sector goals.