Lok Sabha Question No. 875 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-02-05
Subject: Permanent Protocol for unforseen Pandemic
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: Thirumaa Valavan Thol

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 875 TO BE ANSWERED ON 5 TH FEBRUARY, 2021

## PERMANENT PROTOCOL F OR UNFORSEEN PANDEMI C

## 875. SHRI THIRUMAAVA LAVAN THOL:

Will the Minister of HEALTH AND FAMILY WE LFARE be pleased to state:

(a)  whether  the  Government  has  any  plan  to  develop permanent  protocol  to  face  unforeseen pandemics  in future,  such  as  the  COVID - 19,  if  so,  the  details  thereof and  if  not,  the  reason theref or; and

(b)  whether  the  Government  has  any  specific  body committee/mechanism  to  monitor  the graphical  spread  of the  COVID- 19  and  make  arrangements  for  providing  the treatment  and sufficient beds, if so, the details thereof and if not, the reason therefor?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (SHRI ASHWINI KUMAR CHOUBEY)

(a):    As  a  signatory  to  International  Health  Regulations,  2005,  Government  of  India  r committed  to  developing  and  further  strengthening  core  capacities  required  to  detect, notify  and  report  events,  and  respond  to  public  health  risks  and  emerg encies  of  national  and international concern.

In this direction Ministry of Health & Family Welfare has developed a comprehensi National Pandemic Preparedness Plan, which was last revisited in a consultative workshop in December, 2019.

During  this exercise  various  facets  of  pandemic  preparedness  including  (i)  Glob developments and key WHO guidance, (ii) Governance issues, (iii) Surveillance, (iv) Med response, (v) Pharmaceutical and Non - Pharmaceutical Interventions, (vi) Risk Communications and community engagement were examined in consultation with WHO, MoHFW, and States.

(b):  Ministry of Home Affairs, Govt. of India, under extant provisions of DM Act constit Empowered Groups on different aspects of COVID - 19 management in the country o fast track informed decisions on issues. Empowered Groups I, II and III, specifically dealt with (i) emergency  planning,  (ii)  availability  of  hospitals,  isolation  and  quarantine  facilit surveillance  and  testing,  (iii)  ensuring  availabi lity  of  essential  medical  equipment.  These Empowered  Groups  have  submitted  their  projections,  which  have  been  shared  with  Stat

Governments and relevant Central Ministries and Departments to prepare for any potential in healthcare needs and demands.

In addition, Committee of Secretaries under Chairmanship of the Cabinet Secretary monitored  the  situation  continuously  and  provided  inter - sectoral  coordination  at  the  highest level.

Technical  committees  like  the  Joint  Monitoring  Group  under  Directorate General  of Health Services, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, and the National Task Force under In Council of Medical Research have monitored the evolving COVID - 19 situation in the country on a regular basis and provided technical inputs for the sa me.