Secretary, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Punya Salila Srivastava, reaffirmed India’s commitment to strengthening global pandemic preparedness and response at the UN High-Level Meeting in New York. Addressing the meeting, the Secretary outlined India’s coordinated approach to pandemic prevention and response across government and society, which covers a wide range of potential health emergencies. She underlined the efforts taken by India to expand laboratory networks, emergency coordination, health workforce, stockpiles and clinical care capacity to ensure that systems are equipped to respond effectively to health emergencies. Ms Srivastava stressed the need to translate the lessons of the COVID-19 pandemic into sustained investment, institutional capacity and resilient health systems.

She also underscored the importance of solidarity and fair access to essential health products. She said that during the COVID-19 pandemic, India supplied 300 million vaccine doses to around 100 countries and two UN entities, while providing medical assistance to over 150 countries. Ms Srivastava said this reflected India’s commitment to the principle of One Earth, One Health.

Speaking on the occasion, WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus called for urgent action to strengthen global pandemic preparedness.