NEW DELHI, MARCH 17, 2025 – The Indian government is hosting a three-day workshop on pandemic preparedness for the Indo-Pacific region, bringing together senior health officials and technical experts from the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad) nations, as well as representatives from over 15 countries across the region.
The Quad Workshop on Pandemic Preparedness is an outcome of the 6th Quad Leaders' Summit held in September 2024. The workshop aims to enhance collaboration and coordination among the Quad nations and their partner countries to strengthen global health frameworks, improve preparedness and resilience, and ensure coordinated responses to pandemics.
Minister of State for Health Anupriya Patel inaugurated the workshop, which has seen participation from over 25 delegates from 15 countries, including Cambodia, Fiji, Indonesia, Kenya, Kiribati, Madagascar, Maldives, Mozambique, Palau, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Thailand, Tonga, and Tuvalu. International health organizations are also represented at the event.
During the workshop, participating countries will share their pandemic preparedness experiences, focusing on governance, surveillance, and innovation. Panel discussions will focus on strengthening global health frameworks, enhancing preparedness and resilience, ensuring coordinated pandemic responses, and implementing the One Health approach. Discussions will also include risk communication, community engagement, disease surveillance, and capacity building.
Participants will engage in group work and simulations on pandemics like Avian Influenza, Mpox, and Ebola, refining response strategies and promoting cross-border coordination. The workshop aims to provide a platform for delegates to gain firsthand insight into India's public health infrastructure, surveillance systems, and emergency response capabilities, as well as participate in a field visit to the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) and the National Centre for Vector-Borne Disease Control.
The Quad Workshop on Pandemic Preparedness is seen as a significant milestone in building a more robust and coordinated health security framework for the Indo-Pacific region. The event underscores the importance of international cooperation in addressing global health challenges and promoting regional resilience.