The NITI Aayog’s expert group report on pandemic preparedness, released in 2023, outlines critical lessons from India’s COVID-19 experience and proposes a roadmap to strengthen resilience against future health emergencies.
Key Focus Areas of the Report
- “One Health” Approach:
- Integrates human, animal, and environmental health to tackle zoonotic diseases (e.g., COVID-19, Nipah).
- Recommends cross-sectoral coordination between ministries (Health, Animal Husbandry, Environment) and institutions like ICMR, NIV, and NDDB.
- Legal and Institutional Reforms:
- Highlights the need to replace the archaic Epidemic Diseases Act (EDA), 1897 with a modern Public Health Act.
- Proposes a National Pandemic Preparedness Plan and a dedicated pandemic authority for centralized coordination.
- Strengthening Surveillance:
- Upgrade the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP) with AI/ML tools and real-time genomic sequencing.
- Expand surveillance to include antibiotic resistance and climate-linked diseases.
- Healthcare Infrastructure:
- Build modular hospitals and decentralized supply chains for oxygen, PPE, and vaccines.
- Strengthen rural healthcare via telemedicine and frontline worker training.
Existing Legal and Institutional Framework
Constitutional Provisions
- State List (Entry 6): Public Health and Sanitation are state subjects, empowering states to manage epidemics.
- Concurrent List (Entry 29): Allows both Centre and States to legislate on preventing inter-state spread of diseases.
Key Laws and Policies
- Epidemic Diseases Act (EDA), 1897:
- Colonial-era law used during COVID-19 for lockdowns and containment measures.
- Limitations: Lacks provisions for data privacy, equity, or compensation during emergencies.
- International Health Regulations (IHR), 2005:
- WHO-mandated framework for reporting outbreaks (e.g., COVID-19) and cross-border cooperation.
- National Health Policy 2017:
- Emphasizes pandemic preparedness but lacks enforceable mandates.
Proposed Reforms in the Report
- New Public Health Law:
- Replace EDA 1897 with a law aligned with IHR (2005) and One Health principles.
- Include provisions for data sharing, vaccine equity, and emergency funding.
- Strengthen IDSP:
- Integrate Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM) for real-time data from primary health centers.
- Establish zoonotic disease surveillance hubs in hotspots (e.g., Kerala, Northeast).
- National Pandemic Authority:
- Modeled on NDMA (National Disaster Management Authority) for inter-ministerial coordination.
- Coordinate with international bodies like WHO and G20’s Global Initiative on Sharing Avian Influenza Data (GISAID).
- Research and Development:
- Boost funding for vaccine R&D (e.g., mRNA platforms) and pan-coronavirus vaccines.
Challenges Identified
- Federal Coordination: Balancing state autonomy with central oversight under Entry 29.
- Funding Gaps: Need for dedicated pandemic funds (proposed ₹50,000 crore corpus).
- Data Fragmentation: Siloed health data systems across states.
Global Comparisons
- The report draws lessons from:
- USA: CDC’s epidemic intelligence service.
- EU: HERA (Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Authority).
- South Africa: NICD’s zoonotic disease tracking.
Significance of the Report
- First Post-COVID Blueprint: Addresses gaps exposed during COVID-19 (e.g., oxygen shortages, migrant crises).
- Aligns with Global Goals: Supports India’s commitment to WHO’s Pandemic Treaty negotiations.
- Economic Security: Mitigates risks of future pandemics to India’s GDP (COVID-19 cost India ~₹15 lakh crore).
Way Forward
- Immediate Steps: Parliamentary debate on the new Public Health Act and state consultations.
- Long-Term: Build a pandemic-resilient health workforce and invest in climate-resilient infrastructure.