Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, Anupriya Singh Patel, inaugurated a three-day Quad Workshop on Pandemic Preparedness for the Indo-Pacific Region in Delhi on Monday.
Jointly organized by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and the Ministry of External Affairs, the workshop, running from March 17 to 19, aims to strengthen global health emergency frameworks, boost preparedness, and enhance resilience against future health threats, according to a statement from the Ministry of External Affairs.
In her address, Patel stressed the urgent need for global collaboration in the face of emerging health threats. “The rise of emerging and re-emerging health threats in recent times underscores the critical necessity of strengthened preparedness, enhanced surveillance, and well-coordinated international response mechanisms to safeguard global health security,” she said.
Patel highlighted India’s contribution to global pandemic preparedness, stating, “India has contributed USD 10 million towards the establishment of the Pandemic Fund, which was specially conceptualized for fighting pandemics. We have further pledged an additional USD 12 million to support its sustained functioning.”
She emphasized that “India is at the forefront of leveraging digital health technologies to improve healthcare access and outcomes, creating sustainable, data-driven systems.”
Patel also pointed to India’s initiatives such as the Integrated Disease Surveillance Program (IDSP) and the National One Health Program for Prevention and Control of Zoonosis as part of the country’s broader strategy to build a pandemic-ready healthcare system.
Prof. Ajay Kumar Sood, Principal Scientific Advisor to the Government of India, highlighted the importance of regional collaboration in addressing zoonotic diseases, especially for countries with significant livestock sectors.
Union Health Secretary Punya Salila Srivastava emphasized the need for people-centered pandemic preparedness and the Quad’s pivotal role in strengthening health security in the Indo-Pacific.
The workshop follows the One Health approach, integrating human, animal, and environmental health. Discussions will focus on risk communication, community engagement, disease surveillance, and capacity building. Delegates will also participate in simulations aimed at refining response strategies for pandemics like Avian Influenza, Mpox, and ebola, while promoting cross-border coordination.
A significant part of the event includes field visits to India’s National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) and the National Centre for Vector-Borne Disease Control, offering delegates first-hand insights into India’s public health infrastructure and emergency response systems.
As an outcome of the 6th Quad Leaders’ Summit held in September 2024, the workshop serves as a platform for global health security collaboration. Senior health officials and technical experts from Quad nations—India, the United States, Japan, and Australia—are joined by over 25 delegates from 15 Indo-Pacific countries, including Cambodia, Fiji, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, and Tanzania, as well as international health organizations.
