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Global R&D Network Can Help Ensure Universal Access To Life-Saving Medical Countermeasures: Official

Underscoring the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the healthcare systems around the world, Department of Pharmaceuticals secretary S Aparna said said the time is now to build collaboration among nations

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The power of collective action and partnerships in expediting research and development can help build a future where no one is left behind: Department of Pharmaceuticals secretary S Aparna

New Delhi: Initiatives such as a global research and development network can help build a future where no one is left behind and access to life-saving medical countermeasures becomes a universal reality, Department of Pharmaceuticals secretary S Aparna said on Tuesday.

Delivering the closing remarks at the concluding session of the third G20 Health Working Group meeting here, Ms Aparna appreciated all delegates for contributing their valuable insights on the establishment of a global research and development network within the global medical countermeasures platform to support pandemic preparedness and response. She said,

The discussions have helped to define the pathway for collaborative partnerships and provided us with a framework to envision the global research and development network.

Underscoring the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the healthcare systems around the world, she said the time is now to build collaboration among nations, institutions, and stakeholders through a global research and development network that fosters innovation and accelerates research.

This would be a necessary element to build the requisite agility and bench strength on a global scale to predict, prepare for and respond to future health emergencies in a robust, equitable and timely manner, she said.

Ms Aparna laid emphasis on the power of collective action and partnerships in expediting research and development as a necessary precursor to equitable distribution, and access to life-saving medical countermeasures against epidemic and endemic diseases. She further said,

The timely deployment of appropriate countermeasures in an emergency also relies to a large extent on those having been developed and tested by continuous interaction with a variety of stakeholders in different locations and socio-economic situations during peace time.

She noted that the deliberations during the three-day meeting have delved into the fundamental principles and components required to establish a thriving network that enhances capabilities for early stage and preparatory research, and ensures universal access to effective and affordable medical countermeasures. She said,

Key aspects such as leveraging the respective strengths of partners, structured knowledge sharing, prioritization, resource allocation, capacity building, and effective technology transfer have been identified as essential pillars of a well-functioning global R and D network.

On the structure of such a mechanism, Ms Aparna stated,

A network of networks which encourages regional and local cooperation as well as greater alignment of existing partnerships and principles such as those found in the World Health Organization (WHO) Blueprint for epidemics and the 100 Days Mission would be an efficient and effective path towards impact-driven collaboration.” Such a collaboration on research and development should factor in a globally accessible database covering priority pathogens, ongoing research on vaccines, therapeutics and diagnostics, and development of disease agnostic technologies.

It would help to address challenges such as the asymmetry of information, the lack of availability of critical materials, low attention to certain products needed by small patient populations as well as the inequitable access to potential solutions that currently obtains across geographies and communities, she added.

(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

NDTV – Dettol have been working towards a clean and healthy India since 2014 via the Banega Swachh India initiative, which is helmed by Campaign Ambassador Amitabh Bachchan. The campaign aims to highlight the inter-dependency of humans and the environment, and of humans on one another with the focus on One Health, One Planet, One Future – Leaving No One Behind. It stresses on the need to take care of, and consider, everyone’s health in India – especially vulnerable communities – the LGBTQ populationindigenous people, India’s different tribes, ethnic and linguistic minorities, people with disabilities, migrants, geographically remote populations, gender and sexual minorities. In wake of the current COVID-19 pandemic, the need for WASH (WaterSanitation and Hygiene) is reaffirmed as handwashing is one of the ways to prevent Coronavirus infection and other diseases. The campaign will continue to raise awareness on the same along with focussing on the importance of nutrition and healthcare for women and children, fight malnutrition, mental wellbeing, self care, science and health, adolescent health & gender awareness. Along with the health of people, the campaign has realised the need to also take care of the health of the eco-system. Our environment is fragile due to human activity, which is not only over-exploiting available resources, but also generating immense pollution as a result of using and extracting those resources. The imbalance has also led to immense biodiversity loss that has caused one of the biggest threats to human survival – climate change. It has now been described as a “code red for humanity.” The campaign will continue to cover issues like air pollutionwaste managementplastic banmanual scavenging and sanitation workers and menstrual hygiene. Banega Swasth India will also be taking forward the dream of Swasth Bharat, the campaign feels that only a Swachh or clean India where toilets are used and open defecation free (ODF) status achieved as part of the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2014, can eradicate diseases like diahorrea and the country can become a Swasth or healthy India.

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