{"id":29474,"date":"2024-09-14T18:38:46","date_gmt":"2024-09-14T13:08:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/?p=29474"},"modified":"2024-09-14T18:38:48","modified_gmt":"2024-09-14T13:08:48","slug":"niti-aayog-on-future-pandemic-preparedness","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/current-affairs\/14-09-2024\/niti-aayog-on-future-pandemic-preparedness","title":{"rendered":"NITI Aayog on Future Pandemic Preparedness"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><strong>Syllabus: GS2\/Government Policy and Intervention; Health<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Context<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Recently, the <strong>NITI Aayog<\/strong> released an Expert Group report titled <strong><em>\u2018Future Pandemic Preparedness and Emergency Response \u2014A Framework for Action\u2019<\/em><\/strong>, focusing on public health emergencies or pandemics.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Background: Blueprint for Preparedness<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The expert group behind the \u2018Future Pandemic Preparedness and Emergency Response (PPER) \u2014 A Framework for Action\u2019 recognised that <strong>COVID-19 wouldn\u2019t be the last pandemic<\/strong> we face.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Given the <strong><em>ever-changing planetary dynamics\u2014ecology, climate, and interactions between humans, animals, and plants<\/em><\/strong>\u2014there is a need to be <strong>ready for new infectious threats<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>In fact, the World Health Organization (WHO) has warned that <strong>75% of future public health threats are likely to be zoonotic (originating from animals)<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Key Objectives of Report<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>NITI Aayog formed an Expert Group with a clear mission: create a robust framework for future pandemic preparedness and emergency response, to address the above emergencies.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Their <strong>task was to examine how COVID-19 was managed<\/strong> both nationally and globally, learn from successes and challenges, and <strong>identify key gaps<\/strong> to enhance our readiness for any health crisis.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Key Recommendations (Four Pillars of Preparedness)<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Governance, Legislation, Finance and Management:<\/strong> Effective governance structures, legal frameworks, financial mechanisms, and management strategies are crucial.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>A <strong>well-defined SOP<\/strong> manual for rapid response to be prepared<strong> Setting up<\/strong> of a special PPER Fund for all activities of surveillance, data management, forecasting and modelling, research, innovation and manufacture, development of countermeasures, infrastructure and capacity building.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Data Management, Surveillance and Early Predictive Warning, Forecasting and Modelling:<\/strong> Timely data collection, surveillance systems, and predictive models allow us to detect outbreaks early. This information is vital for swift decision-making.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Research and Innovation, Manufacturing, Infrastructure, Capacity building\/Skilling:<\/strong> Investing in research, innovation, and domestic manufacturing capacities is essential. We need to develop diagnostic tools, treatments, and vaccines swiftly.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Partnership, Community engagement including risk communication, Private sector partnerships, and international collaborations:<\/strong> Strengthening healthcare capacity, training healthcare workers, and engaging communities are vital. International collaboration ensures knowledge sharing and resource pooling.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Other Recommendations<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>A separate <strong>Public Health Emergency Management Act (PHEMA)<\/strong> is proposed to facilitate the management of <strong>any public health crisis beyond epidemics,<\/strong> including non-communicable diseases, disasters, and bioterrorism, and should be in place for a developed country.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Indian Regulatory System:<\/strong> There is a need for global harmonisation of regulatory norms to allow acceptance of regulatory data across the world\u2019s recognised regulatory authorities and a common framework for innovative technologies and accelerated response for emergency approval.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The <strong>regulatory authority in India (CDSCO)<\/strong> needs special powers through legislation and requires technical competence strengthening and autonomy in functioning to meet these requirements.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>100-Day Action Plan<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The report emphasises that the first 100 days of an outbreak are critical. During this window, there is a need to have <strong>strategies and countermeasures ready<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The report provides a detailed roadmap for preparedness, including how to track, test, treat, and manage outbreaks effectively.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img data-dominant-color=\"ecd9d5\" data-has-transparency=\"false\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"747\" height=\"477\" src=\"https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2024\/09\/A-100-Days-Mission-jpg.webp\" alt=\"100-Day Action Plan\" class=\"not-transparent wp-image-29477\" style=\"--dominant-color: #ecd9d5; width:491px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2024\/09\/A-100-Days-Mission-jpg.webp 747w, https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2024\/09\/A-100-Days-Mission-300x192.webp 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 747px) 100vw, 747px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>India\u2019s Efforts and Lessons Learned<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>India\u2019s response to the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic involved several key initiatives, like:<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Novel Counter-Measures:<\/strong> Funding for industry and researchers, shared resources, and policy guidelines.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Digital Tools:<\/strong> Investments in pandemic response tools and vaccination data management.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Global Collaborations: <\/strong>Partnerships with other countries and organisations.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-background\" style=\"background-color:#fff2cc\"><tbody><tr><td><strong>Event\/Outbreak and Their Learning<\/strong><br>&#8211; <strong>SARS in 2003<\/strong><br>1. Need for International legally binding rules\/ regulations.<br>2. Detection of infection among exposed persons is a challenge during the initial phase.<br>3. Need for core capacities for screening, sample collection and quarantine facilities at international airports.<br>&#8211; <strong>Avian Flu (H5N1)\u00a0<\/strong><br>1. An effective strategy of surveillance of at-risk populations and culling sick birds was developed as a coordinated surveillance and response plan for both human and animal sectors.<br>2. A standing committee on zoonosis was established following avian influenza<br>&#8211;<strong>H1N1 Pandemic (pandemic declared as Public Health Emergency of International Concern)<\/strong><br>&#8211; Countries were developing core capacities as per <strong>International Health Regulations (IHR) 2005<\/strong> at points of entry and inside the country for surveillance and response.<br>1. <strong>IHR (2005)<\/strong>, a <strong>legally binding regulation<\/strong>, was in place.<br>&#8211; Countries adopted <strong>public health measures<\/strong> like screening at POEs, early detection of suspects, quarantine, contact tracing of suspect surveillance and management of cases in isolation in dedicated wards.<br>1. Public health measures were helpful in mitigating and delaying the entry of infection.<br>&#8211; Need for coordinated surveillance between Points of entry and in country surveillance systems.<br>&#8211; <strong>Ebola Outbreaks (2014-16) and (2018-21)<\/strong><br>1. Efforts to control these outbreaks involved screening, surveillance of exposed, contact tracing, data management, laboratory testing, and health education, including use of PPEs.\u00a0<br>2. Public health efforts were much more effective, limiting entry into the country.<br>&#8211; <strong>MERS-CoV<\/strong><br>1. Zoonotic diseases, particularly highly infectious diseases that spread via respiratory\/ droplets route could be challenging to prevent.<br>2. Most of the threats leading to pandemics were due to novel viruses of zoonotic origin, possibly transmitted through the human animal interface.<br>3. Infectious diseases having a respiratory mode of transmission are dangerous.<br>&#8211; <strong>Zika Virus Disease<\/strong><br>1. It is a disease with <strong>over 80% asymptomatic cases<\/strong> and mild clinical symptoms with full recovery cannot be prevented using public health measures directed towards travellers.<br>2. Effective vector surveillance and control is essential to prevent entry and transmission of vector-transmitted diseases.<br>3. Need for multi-sectoral collaborative surveillance<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Conclusion<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>In a world where pandemics are no longer rare events,\u00a0 \u2018Future Pandemic Preparedness and Emergency Response (PPER) \u2014 A Framework for Action\u2019 serves as a beacon\u2014a roadmap to navigate the challenges ahead.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It\u2019s a reminder that preparedness isn\u2019t just about reacting; it\u2019s about <strong>proactive planning, collaboration, and resilience.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.newsonair.gov.in\/niti-aayog-releases-expert-group-report-on-future-pandemic-preparedness\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Source: News On AIR<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Recently, the NITI Aayog released an Expert Group report titled \u2018Future Pandemic Preparedness and Emergency Response \u2014A Framework for Action\u2019, focusing on public health emergencies or pandemics.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[21],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-29474","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-current-affairs"],"acf":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29474","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=29474"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29474\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":29478,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29474\/revisions\/29478"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=29474"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=29474"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=29474"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}