NITI Aayog Expert Group Calls For Public Health Emergency Law To Bolster India's Pandemic Preparedness

In a bid to better handle future pandemics, an expert group set up by NITI Aayog has suggested the introduction of a separate legislation called the Public Health Emergency Management Act (PHEMA).

The proposed legislation is aimed at effectively managing disease outbreaks and public health emergencies.

The report, titled 'Future Pandemic Preparedness and Emergency Response- A Framework for Action', outlines recommendations for establishing a dedicated Pandemic Preparedness and Emergency Response (PPER) fund and creating institutionalised and empowered governance mechanisms, Business Standard reported.

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.

The report stresses the importance of the first 100 days in managing an outbreak. “It is critical to be ready with strategies and counter-measures which can be made available within this period”, it adds.

Key recommendations of the expert group span four areas: governance and legislation, data management and surveillance, research and innovation, and risk communication.

For governance, the report advocates for the enactment of PHEMA, a law that would will allow a holistic approach to health management, covering prevention, control, and disaster response, adding that it could also provide for the creation of skilled public health cadres at national and state levels.

“The PHEMA can address various aspects beyond epidemics, including non-communicable diseases, disasters, and bio-terrorism, and should be in place for a developed country,” said the group's report.

An Empowered Group of Secretaries, chaired by the Cabinet Secretary has also been proposed under the PPER to put a well-oiled machinery into action, which prepares and readies itself before any emergency.

On data management and surveillance, the report recommends creating harmonised systems for data collection, access, sharing, analysis, along with a unified data portal for infectious diseases.

To promote research and innovation, the group suggests earmarking PPER funds for advanced research focused on developing vaccines and drugs for priority pathogens.

The report also recommends the establishment of a dedicated risk communication unit, with pre-approved standard operating procedures for timely and accurate information dissemination to different stakeholders.

The report calls for greater attention to India's regulatory system and advocates for the global harmonisation of regulatory norms to allow acceptance of regulatory data across the world’s recognised regulatory authorities and a common framework for innovative technologies and accelerated response for emergency approval.

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