Statement by India at the 142^nd Session of the Executive Board (EB) of the World Health Organization (22^nd to 27^th January 2018) on Agenda item 3.3: Public Health Preparedness and Response, delivered by Sh. Lav Agarwal, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. [WHO HQ, Geneva, 23^rd January 2018]

Thank You Mr. Chair,

 Our comments are for the three documents EB142/8, EB142/9 and EB142/10. 

2. The spate of recent global disasters has highlighted the need for greater public health preparedness.A robust response system is required to address the existing and emerging challenges.

3. In May, 2016, India had also communicated to WHO regarding its status of compliance to International Health Regulations based on self-assessment of IHR core capacities. The implementation of IHR core capacities remains an important ongoing process.

4. India compliments the good work done by the WHO Health Emergencies Programme, including the finalization of a Global Coordination Mechanism for Research and Development. India would, however, request more information on the GCM R&D framework to help us better understand and analyze its progress.

Mr. Chair,

5. The focus of the strategic plan is on preparedness and response. Hence it misses out on preventive strategies like immunization, bio-safety, bio security, Antimicrobial Resistance; mitigation strategies like public health risk assessment and management, disaster resilient health structures; and some aspects of preparedness strategies like health workforce development, medical countermeasures for certain hazards, R & D in the context of public health emergencies.

6. As the report primarily deals with health emergencies, India proposes that the agenda item could be rephrased as ‘Public Health Emergency Preparedness and Response’.

7. Inadequate financing still remains a major concern in the area of public health preparedness and response, particularly with respect to the underfunding of the Contingency Fund and the instability and inflexibility of tightly earmarked funding.

Mr. Chair,

8. India believes that for faster and more effective mobilization of resources in times of health emergencies, the country offices and regional offices of the WHO should be given sufficient resources and leeway in terms of contingency decision making.

Mr. Chair,

9. India will continue to commit itself and work with WHO in building up a robust, efficient and reliable public health preparedness and response system. 

Thank You.