INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
The report also observed that it is critical to be ready with strategies and countermeasures, which can be made available within the first
100 days (Photo: https://www.niti.gov.in/)4 min read Last Updated Sep 12 2024 | 11:07 AM IST
A report by an expert group set up by NITI
Aayog has recommended a separate legislation called Public Health Emergency Management Act (PHEMA) to handle disease outbreaks and
setting up of a special fund for Pandemic Preparedness and Emergency Response (PPER) and creating institutionalised and empowered governance
mechanisms.
The four-member group was constituted to prepare a framework for action for future pandemic preparedness and emergency
response, in the aftermath of Covid-19.
Its report that the first 100 days of an outbreak are crucial for effective management
of the new PPER framework, which aim to prepare a road map and action plan for preparing for any public health emergency and delivering a
well articulated response in these 100 Days.
The expert group has made recommendations in four areas: Governance and legislation, data
separate legislation (PHEMA) that will allow a holistic approach to health management, covering prevention, control, and disaster response,
various aspects beyond epidemics, including non-communicable diseases, disasters, and bio-terrorism, and should be in place for a developed
can be made available within the first 100 days.
An Empowered Group of Secretaries, chaired by the Cabinet Secretary has also been proposed
include development of capacities for both human resources and infrastructure, development of innovative countermeasures, appropriate
high-risk financing for getting high returns among others.
The report also noted adequate finances need to be made available for pandemic
preparation as was the case during Covid-19, when need-based finance packages were made available for some of the emergency response
activities like genomic surveillance, vaccine and diagnostic development.
For data management and surveillance, the report recommends
establishing of harmonised systems of data collection, access, sharing, analysis, along with a unified data portal for infectious
funds for high-end research to develop countermeasures such as vaccines and drugs against priority pathogens.
The report proposes setting
up an institute of innovation for new platform technologies and vaccine research, development and manufacture
that the Indian regulatory system needs special attention, the report also stated that there is a need for global harmonisation of
innovative technologies and accelerated response for emergency approval.First Published: Sep 12 2024 | 11:07 AMIST
