Govt looks to draw plan to combat pandemics

THE W.H.O. IS WORKING ON A LIST OF PRIORITY PATHOGENS THAT NEED RESEARCH

India is working on a plan to effectively combat public health emergencies and disease outbreaks in future, according to people familiar with the matter, even as WHO on Monday announced it will be identifying pathogens that could cause future outbreaks and pandemics.

Under the Pradhan Mantri Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission (PM-ABHIM) that Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched on October 25, 2021, the government aims to fill critical gaps in health infrastructure, surveillance and, health research to be able to better manage Covid-19 like pandemics or health crises in the future.

“Strengthening research in the field is a crucial aspect as zoonotic diseases are going to be big in years to come. Not just enhancing the lab network, efforts under the scheme will also be made to create adequately trained manpower to perform cutting edge research,” said a senior health ministry official, requesting anonymity.

“The capacity of high-tech research laboratories housed in institutes such as National Institute of Virology-pune, National Centre for Disease Control, New Delhi etc. will not only be enhanced but these will also do the job of mentoring as a network of integrated laboratories will be set up at the district level.”

WHO will be updating the list of priority pathogens—agents that can cause outbreaks or pandemics—to guide global investment, research and development, the UN health body announced.

It is convening at least 300 scientists who will consider the evidence on over 25 virus families and bacteria, as well as “Disease X”, a serious international epidemic caused by an unknown pathogen. The experts will recommend a list of priority pathogens that need further research, it said.

The network of laboratories that the Indian government plans to create in all 730 districts of the country, will optimise access to laboratory services, quality assurance efforts, cost-effectiveness, and use of human resources.

WHO chief scientist, Soumya Swaminathan said, “This list of priority pathogens has become a reference point for the research community on where to focus energies to manage next threat.”