The report also noted that it is critical to be prepared with strategies and countermeasures, which can be made available within the first 100 days (Photo: https://www.niti.gov.in/)
A report by an expert group set up by NITI Aayog recommended a separate legislation called the Public Health Emergency Management Act (PHEMA) to manage disease outbreaks and pandemics.
In its report titled ‘Future Pandemic Preparedness and Emergency Response: A Framework for Action’, the group proposed creating a special fund for pandemic preparedness and emergency response (PPER) and creating institutionalized and empowered governance mechanisms.
The four-member group was formed to prepare a framework for action to prepare for future pandemics and emergency responses in the wake of COVID-19.
The report notes that the first 100 days of an outbreak are crucial for effective management. “It is critical to be prepared with strategies and countermeasures that can be put in place in that period,” it adds. The report therefore offers a blueprint for a 100-day response to any outbreak or pandemic.
The proposed recommendations are part of the new PPER framework, which aims to prepare a roadmap and action plan to prepare for any public health emergency and offer a well-articulated response in these 100 days.
The expert group has made recommendations in four areas: governance and legislation, data management and oversight, research and innovation, and risk communication.
For governance, the report has recommended enacting separate legislation (PHEMA) that will enable a holistic approach to health management, encompassing prevention, control and response to disasters, adding that it could also provide for the creation of trained public health cadres at national and state levels.
“PHEMA can address a range of issues beyond epidemics, including non-communicable diseases, disasters and bioterrorism, and should be implemented in a developed country,” the group’s report said.
The report also noted that it is critical to be prepared with strategies and countermeasures that can be put in place within the first 100 days.
Within the framework of the PPER, the creation of an Empowered Group of Secretaries, chaired by the Cabinet Secretary, has also been proposed to put in place a well-oiled machinery that is prepared and ready for any emergency.
“A well-structured scoring mechanism should regularly monitor progress against key objectives,” the report said.
According to the report, priority objectives include capacity building in both human resources and infrastructure, development of innovative countermeasures, and adequate financing of high-risk investments to obtain high returns, among others.
The report also noted that adequate funding for pandemic preparedness is needed, as was the case during COVID-19, when needs-based financial packages were made available for some emergency response activities, such as genomic surveillance, vaccine development and diagnostics.
For data management and surveillance, the report recommends establishing harmonized systems for data collection, access, sharing and analysis, along with a unified data portal for infectious diseases.
“It is also necessary to create a robust biosecurity network of BSL3 and BSL4 facilities for the characterization and epidemiological study of all priority pathogens,” the report adds.
For research and innovation, the group has proposed allocating PPER funds to high-level research to develop countermeasures such as vaccines and drugs against priority pathogens.
The report proposes the creation of an innovation institute for new platform technologies and for vaccine research, development and manufacturing. “There is an urgent need to scale up manufacturing capacities and logistics supply chains to provide countermeasures against pathogens,” the report says.
The creation of a specialized risk communication unit with previously approved standard operating procedures (SOPs) and protocols for the publication and dissemination of information on a regular basis to the different interested parties is recommended.
Highlighting that the Indian regulatory system needs special attention, the report also stated that there is a need for global harmonization of regulatory standards to enable acceptance of regulatory data among recognized regulatory authorities of the world and a common framework for innovative technologies and accelerated response for emergency approval.
First published: September 12, 2024 | 11:07 am IS
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