NITI Aayog Proposes New Legislation for Future Pandemic Preparedness

One of the key findings of the report is the importance of being ready with strategies and countermeasures within the first 100 days of any outbreak.

An expert group constituted by NITI Aayog has proposed a new legislation, the Public Health Emergency Management Act (PHEMA), to better prepare India for future public health crises.

The proposal is part of a report titled "Future Pandemic Preparedness and Emergency Response – A Framework for Action," which was developed in response to lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic.

The report highlights the importance of early action during outbreaks and suggests that the first 100 days of an outbreak are crucial for effective management.

The proposed PHEMA would facilitate the management of various public health challenges, ranging from epidemics and non-communicable diseases to disasters and bioterrorism.

The report argues that such a legislative framework is essential for a holistic approach to health management in a developing country like India.

It also envisions the creation of specialized public health cadres at both the national and state levels to enhance the country’s ability to respond to health emergencies.

Key Recommendations

One of the key findings of the report is the importance of being ready with strategies and countermeasures within the first 100 days of any outbreak.

The expert group emphasizes the need for preparedness measures to be in place well before an emergency occurs. To achieve this, the report recommends establishing an Empowered Group of Secretaries (EGoS), chaired by the Cabinet Secretary, to oversee pandemic preparedness and emergency response efforts.

This body would ensure that a coordinated and well-prepared system is activated before any public health crisis.

The report also proposes a structured scorecard mechanism to monitor progress on key targets, ensuring that the country’s pandemic preparedness measures are constantly evaluated and updated.

These targets include the development of human resource capacities, innovative countermeasures, high-risk financing for health emergencies, and establishing a strong regulatory framework.

A robust surveillance network is another critical component highlighted in the report. It calls for the seamless integration of epidemiological data with genomic, laboratory, and clinical data, ensuring that information flows smoothly between hospitals, labs, and public health authorities.

This would require the development of a well-articulated data-sharing policy and assigning clear authority to key decision-makers for rapid action during health crises.

Moreover, to take timely and effective action during future pandemics, the report recommends the creation of a Pandemic Preparedness and Emergency Response Fund.

This fund would provide financial resources for pandemic preparation, research, and emergency response.

The report notes that while COVID-19 saw need-based financial packages for activities such as genomic surveillance, vaccine and diagnostic development, and shared research infrastructure, there remains a critical need for adequate, ongoing financing for future preparedness.

Panel’s Other Suggestions

Emphasizing the need for a more robust regulatory system, the report suggests that the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) should be granted special powers through new legislation.

These powers would ensure the technical competence and autonomy required to meet the challenges posed by future pandemics.

The report also underscores the importance of global harmonization of regulatory norms, which would allow India to align its regulations with other leading global authorities.

This would enable the faster acceptance of regulatory data and facilitate the rapid deployment of innovative technologies during health crises.

A clinical trial network for global multi-location trials is also proposed, which would allow India to participate in and benefit from international efforts to develop countermeasures against emerging pathogens.

How can Future Pandemic Preparedness be Achieved?

The expert group highlights the need to strengthen India's research ecosystem. According to the report, 75% of future public health threats are likely to come from zoonotic sources—emerging, re-emerging, and new pathogens that are transmitted from animals to humans.

To counter these threats, India must invest in research and innovation, particularly in areas like vaccine development, diagnostic tools, and new treatments.

The recommendations for a future pandemic preparedness framework are based on four key pillars:

1. Governance, Legislation, Finance, and Management: Strengthening legal and financial frameworks for pandemic preparedness.

2. Data Management, Surveillance, and Early Warning Systems: Building an integrated surveillance network and predictive models for early detection of outbreaks.

3. Research and Innovation, Infrastructure, and Capacity Building: Enhancing the research ecosystem and infrastructure for health innovation.

4. Partnerships and Community Engagement: Promoting collaboration with the private sector, international stakeholders, and communities to ensure comprehensive pandemic preparedness.

The report is the result of extensive consultations with over 60 experts and stakeholders. The group analyzed the experiences of both national and international efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic, identifying key successes and gaps in pandemic management.

The expert group, chaired by former secretary of the Department of Biotechnology, Renu Swarup, included several prominent figures such as Soumya Swaminathan, former chief scientist at the World Health Organization (WHO), and Sujeet Singh, former director of the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).

The proposed framework seeks to provide a comprehensive, actionable plan for future pandemic preparedness, focusing on the integration of data, resources, and policy to ensure that India is better equipped to handle any public health crisis.