New York, September 26: India has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening global pandemic preparedness and response through international cooperation, with Union Health Secretary Punya Salila Srivastava calling for greater equity, solidarity and sustained investment in resilient health systems.
Representing India at the UN High-Level Meeting on Pandemic Prevention, Preparedness and Response in New York on September 25, Srivastava said the lessons of the COVID-19 pandemic must be translated into long-term investments, stronger institutions and better-equipped health systems.
Addressing the meeting at the United Nations Headquarters, the Union Health Secretary outlined India’s approach to preparing for a wide range of potential health emergencies. This includes strengthening laboratory networks, emergency coordination mechanisms, the health workforce, medical stockpiles and clinical care capacity.
She stressed that pandemic preparedness should be integrated into national health systems, development plans and domestic financing, while international assistance should complement national efforts.
India Highlights Role of Digital Health Infrastructure
Drawing on India’s experience during the COVID-19 pandemic, Srivastava called for digital public infrastructure to be recognised as a global public good.
She highlighted the role played by digital solutions in areas such as disease surveillance, vaccination, risk communication, supply-chain management and maintaining continuity of healthcare services during emergencies.
The Health Secretary also emphasised the importance of equitable access to essential health products. She said India supplied 300 million vaccine doses to around 100 countries and two UN entities during the COVID-19 pandemic and provided medical assistance to more than 150 countries.
According to Srivastava, these efforts reflected India’s commitment to the principle of “One Earth, One Health” and solidarity with countries, particularly across the Global South.
Focus on WHO Pandemic Agreement
Referring to the WHO Pandemic Agreement adopted in May 2025, Srivastava described the agreement as an important milestone in global pandemic preparedness.
She stressed that its credibility would depend, among other factors, on establishing a fair Pathogen Access and Benefit Sharing (PABS) system. She said countries contributing pathogens and biological resources should receive timely access to vaccines, diagnostics, therapeutics, technologies and other benefits, while national sovereignty is respected.
She further stated that the political declaration should not prejudge ongoing negotiations on the PABS annex and that implementation should take into account national circumstances and capacities.
On the One Health approach, she called for its implementation in accordance with domestic and international law and individual countries’ circumstances.
WHO Calls for Urgent Action
WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus highlighted progress made in strengthening the global health security architecture since the COVID-19 pandemic, including the WHO Pandemic Agreement and amendments to the International Health Regulations.
Tedros stressed the need to conclude negotiations on the PABS system, warning that delays could affect the international community’s ability to respond effectively to future pandemics.
UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed also urged countries not to become complacent following COVID-19. She highlighted the importance of community-based systems for early detection, surveillance and communication to ensure emerging outbreaks can be identified and contained at an early stage.
The high-level meeting brought together Member States and stakeholders to review progress, discuss challenges and reinforce efforts towards resilient, equitable and sustainable systems for responding to future health emergencies.
