India stresses resilient health systems, pandemic preparedness at UN
2-minute summary
At the United Nations high-level meeting on 'Pandemic Prevention, Preparedness and Response' in New York, India outlined its comprehensive, cross-government approach to global health security. Represented by Union Health Secretary Punya Salila Srivastava, India emphasized that future pandemic preparedness must be rooted in national health systems, domestic financing, and sustained institutional capacity, with international assistance acting as a complement. Drawing on lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic, India advocated for Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) to be recognized as a global public good to support surveillance, supply chains, and service continuity. Furthermore, India highlighted its vaccine Maitri initiatives—having previously supplied 300 million vaccine doses to nearly 100 countries—as evidence of its commitment to 'One Earth, One Health' and solidarity with the Global South. The address also underscored the critical importance of a fair Pathogen Access and Benefit Sharing (PABS) system under the WHO Pandemic Agreement, ensuring that countries contributing biological resources receive equitable and timely access to medical countermeasures.
Why it's in the news
Union Health Secretary Punya Salila Srivastava represented India at the United Nations high-level meeting on 'Pandemic Prevention, Preparedness and Response' in New York, where she reaffirmed India's commitment to global health security and equitable pandemic response frameworks.
Facts to remember
- India is advocating for a fair Pathogen Access and Benefit Sharing (PABS) system under the WHO Pandemic Agreement to ensure equitable access to medical countermeasures.
- Article 47 of the Constitution directs the State to raise the level of nutrition and standard of living and to improve public health as among its primary duties.
- The Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM) serves as the foundational Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) for India's healthcare ecosystem, ensuring interoperability and digital health records.
- During the COVID-19 pandemic, India's Vaccine Maitri initiative supplied 300 million vaccine doses to nearly 100 countries.
Background and context
The COVID-19 pandemic exposed systemic vulnerabilities in global health security, prompting the World Health Organization (WHO) and member states to initiate negotiations for a new international pandemic agreement and amendments to the International Health Regulations (IHR). Key contentious issues in these global negotiations include equitable burden-sharing, intellectual property rights waivers, and the Pathogen Access and Benefit Sharing (PABS) system. Developing nations, particularly across the Global South, have consistently advocated for fair, unhindered access to vaccines, diagnostics, and therapeutics in exchange for sharing pathogen samples. India has played a pivotal role in global health discourse by championing 'Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam' (One Earth, One Family, One Future) and leveraging its pharmaceutical manufacturing capabilities and Digital Public Infrastructure (CoWIN, Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission) to assist developing countries during health emergencies.
Constitutional provisions
- Article 47 — Directs the State to raise the level of nutrition and the standard of living and to improve public health as among its primary duties, laying the constitutional foundation for domestic health policy and emergency preparedness.
Government schemes
- Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM) — Serves as the foundational Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) for India's healthcare ecosystem, ensuring interoperability, digital health records, and seamless service delivery.
International organisations
- World Health Organization (WHO) — The specialized agency of the United Nations responsible for international public health, spearheading the WHO Pandemic Agreement and International Health Regulations revisions.
- United Nations (UN) — The global multilateral forum hosting high-level political dialogues on pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response coordination.
Mains practice: Examine India's strategic vision for global pandemic preparedness and the significance of equity in international health architecture.
• Introduction: India's active posture at the UN high-level meeting on pandemic preparedness underscores its transition from a recipient of health aid to a crucial provider of global health security and a voice for the Global South.
• Core Pillars of India's Approach:
- National Anchoring: Prioritizing robust domestic health systems, expanded laboratory networks, emergency response stockpiles, and decentralized clinical care capabilities.
- Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI): Advocating for DPI as a global public good, drawing from India's domestic innovations in digital tracking, vaccination administration, and healthcare continuity during COVID-19.
• The Equity Imperative & PABS: Emphasizing that global solidarity must manifest through action, specifically via a fair Pathogen Access and Benefit Sharing (PABS) system where pathogen contributors receive equitable, timely access to diagnostics, vaccines, and therapeutics.
• Vaccine Diplomacy and 'One Health': Reaffirming India's philosophical commitment to 'One Earth, One Health' through past large-scale supply of vaccine doses and medical assistance to over 150 nations.
• Conclusion: True global health security is indivisible; future preparedness frameworks must bridge the North-South divide by anchoring international assistance in national sovereignty, fairness, and mutual accountability.
Prelims practice questions
Q1. Consider the following statements regarding the Pathogen Access and Benefit Sharing (PABS) system discussed in international health forums: 1. It is a proposed mechanism linked to the WHO Pandemic Agreement. 2. It aims to ensure that countries contributing biological resources and pathogens receive timely access to vaccines and therapeutics. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- 1 only
- 2 only
- Both 1 and 2
- Neither 1 nor 2
Answer: C. Both statements are correct. The PABS system is a core component under discussion within the WHO Pandemic Agreement framework, designed to balance the sharing of pathogen samples with fair and equitable access to the benefits derived from them, such as vaccines and diagnostics.
Q2. With reference to India's position on Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) in global health, which of the following best describes India's advocacy at international platforms?
- DPI is exclusively meant for domestic financial transactions and cannot be applied to health sectors.
- DPI should be monopolized by private international pharmaceutical corporations.
- DPI should replace physical healthcare infrastructure entirely during an outbreak.
- DPI must be recognized and promoted as a global public good for health service continuity and surveillance.
Answer: D. India has consistently advocated for Digital Public Infrastructure to be recognized globally as a public good, citing its critical utility during the pandemic for surveillance, vaccination campaigns, risk communication, and maintaining essential health services.
Q3. The concept of 'One Earth, One Health', frequently highlighted by India in international forums, primarily emphasizes:
- The privatization of all public health laboratories under UN oversight
- The complete eradication of international travel restrictions during pandemics
- Exclusive economic protectionism in pharmaceutical manufacturing
- A holistic approach integrating human, animal, and environmental health alongside global equity and solidarity
Answer: D. The 'One Health' approach recognizes that human health is connected to the health of animals and ecosystems. India's articulation extends this to international solidarity, equitable sharing of medical countermeasures, and collective responsibility in the Global South.
Revision flashcards
- What is the primary objective of the WHO Pandemic Agreement framework regarding pathogens? To establish a fair Pathogen Access and Benefit Sharing (PABS) system ensuring equitable sharing of pathogens and resultant medical countermeasures.
- How did India demonstrate its vaccine solidarity during the COVID-19 pandemic? By supplying approximately 300 million vaccine doses to nearly 100 countries and providing medical assistance to over 150 nations.
- What role does Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) play in pandemic management according to India? It acts as a global public good supporting surveillance, vaccination tracking, risk communication, and supply chain continuity.
- Which constitutional article in India places a primary duty on the State to improve public health? Article 47 (Directive Principles of State Policy).
- According to India's stance at the UN, international health assistance should complement what primary national responsibility? National health systems, development plans, and domestic financing.