New Delhi: The Government think-tank, NITI Aayog presented a report titled, ‘Future Pandemic Preparedness and Emergency Response: A Framework for Action’ to provide a plan for a 100-day response to any future pandemic outbreak. The expert group has provided a blueprint to prepare for any future pandemic and the report is being considered as a “starting point” for the country’s pandemic preparedness and prevention efforts.
In particular, the report makes the following proposals:
- Establishment of a Pandemic Preparedness and Emergency Response Fund that can be made available before the pandemic strikes.
- Formation of an Empowered Group of Secretaries (EGoS) chaired by the Cabinet Secretary to prepare a response plan.
- Development of a strong surveillance network by inculcating genomic data and allowing for its seamless sharing between communities and hospitals.
- Allocation of funds to Centres for Excellence (CoEs) for research on priority pathogens and creation of vaccine candidate libraries for vaccine testing.
- Provision of special powers and autonomy to the Central Drug Standards Control Organization (CSDCO) and strengthening its technical competence.
- Call for global harmonization of regulatory norms to develop a common framework for rapid response and emergency approvals.