In the wake of the emerging and re-emerging health threats, the Ministry of Health and External Affairs jointly inaugurated the 'Quad Workshop on Pandemic Preparedness for the Indo-Pacific Region' on Monday.
The three-day workshop is aimed at strengthening global emergency frameworks, enhancing preparedness and resilience to health threats, and ensuring coordinated responses to evolving pandemics.
Senior health officials and technical experts from Quad member states and 15 countries across the Indo-Pacific Region are participating in the workshop.
Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, Anupriya Patel highlighted India's commitment to strengthening the global pandemic preparedness and response efforts.
"India has contributed $10 million towards the establishment of the Pandemic Fund which was specially conceptualised for fighting pandemics," said Patel adding that an additional $12 million has been pledged for its sustained functioning.
India's efforts in strengthening the pandemic preparedness
1. India has led Digital Health initiatives, leveraging technology to improve health access, and outcomes and create data-driven systems. These initiatives are capable of addressing both current and future health and climate challenges.
2. A comprehensive health emergency coordination framework is set up by the country, strategically focused on preparedness, response, and resilience-building through setting up several key initiatives. The initiatives include the Integrated Disease Surveillance Program (IDSP), National One Health Program for Prevention and Control of Zoonosis and National Vector Borne Disease Control and Prevention (NVBDCP).
3. Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission and tools including CoWIN portal, eSanjeevani, National Telemedicine Service, Tele-MANAS to manage mental health diseases and Ni-Kshay portal for tracking monitoring and management of Tuberculosis patients.
Ajay Kumar Sood, principal scientific advisor, highlighted the efforts to integrate health services in India.
Sood stressed the need to strengthen the regional health networks and prepare for zoonotic diseases, especially in those countries with a significant livestock sector. Also, engagement of the students and scientific community in fostering innovation is also required.
While speaking at the event, Punya Salila Srivastava, Union health secretary said that “by leveraging India’s vast vaccine production capacity, the United States’ cutting-edge research, Japan’s technological expertise, and Australia’s strong regional engagement, the Quad has emerged as a force for health security in the Indo-Pacific and beyond.”
The workshop will focus on collaborative discussions and mutual learning. Quad partners will be sharing their distinctive pandemic preparedness experiences, challenges, and successes, with a focus on governance, surveillance, and technological innovations.
Strategies and exercises adopted during the pandemic including Avian Influenza, Mpox, and Ebola will be discussed.
