An expert group constituted by NITI Aayog has recommended a new Public Health Emergency Management Act (PHEMA) to deal with the public health crisis, which would create health cadres at national and state levels and also empower public health agencies to take urgent action. The group, headed by Dr Renu Swarup, former secretary at the Department of Biotechnology, was formed in June 2023. On Wednesday, its ‘Future Pandemic Preparedness and Emergency Response: A Framework for Action’ report was made public. “A Public Health Emergency Management Act can address various aspects beyond epidemic, including non-communicable diseases, disasters, and bioterrorism. It allows for a holistic approach to health management, covering prevention, control, and disaster response,” the report states. The group also recommended creation of an Empowered Group of Secretaries on Pandemic Preparedness and Emergency Response (PPER) chaired by the Cabinet Secretary. A first responding lead agency responsible for implementing this Act should be identified, it said. “This allows for immediate rapid response by all health agencies, organisations and departments with no time lag. This also allows building a workforce which is always trained and in peacetime has full preparedness to be the first responder.”
