India Launches QUAD Workshop on Pandemic Preparedness for Indo-Pacific Region

Smt. Anupriya Patel inaugurated the QUAD Workshop on Pandemic Preparedness for the Indo-Pacific Region, aiming to enhance global health security and pandemic response. India showcased its digital health leadership, including initiatives like Ayushman Bharat and CoWIN, and committed USD 22 million to the Pandemic Fund. Experts discussed improving disease surveillance, technology sharing, and regional collaboration. The workshop builds on the 2024 Quad Summit’s focus on health preparedness, with participation from Quad countries and other Indo-Pacific nations, highlighting India’s health infrastructure and response systems.

India Launches QUAD Workshop on Pandemic Preparedness for Indo-Pacific Region

On March 17, 2025, Smt. Anupriya Patel, the Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, inaugurated the QUAD Workshop on Pandemic Preparedness for the Indo-Pacific Region. Organized by India’s Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and Ministry of External Affairs, the workshop focuses on enhancing global health systems and boosting pandemic readiness through international cooperation.

During her speech, Smt. Patel underscored the need to strengthen health security, especially in the face of emerging health threats. She highlighted India’s advancements in digital health, pointing to initiatives like the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission and the CoWIN platform, which have significantly improved healthcare access and outcomes. She also mentioned India’s dedication to pandemic preparedness, including a $10 million contribution to the Pandemic Fund, with an additional $12 million pledged.

The Minister emphasized the importance of digital public health infrastructure, which can serve as a blueprint for other nations, particularly those in the Global South. India is also keen to share its expertise through training programs and partnerships aimed at building capacity.

Prof. Ajay Kumar Sood, the Principal Scientific Advisor to the Government of India, called for better coordination of health services and the sharing of advanced technologies to enhance disease monitoring and preparedness, especially in areas with large livestock industries.

Smt. Punya Salila Srivastava, the Union Health Secretary, highlighted the collaborative potential of the workshop. She noted how the Quad—comprising India, the U.S., Japan, and Australia—has become a vital force in health security for the Indo-Pacific region, thanks to India’s vaccine production, U.S. research, Japan’s technology, and Australia’s regional involvement.

The workshop is part of ongoing efforts that began during the 6th Quad Leaders’ Summit in September 2024, which focused on pandemic readiness. Over the next three days, representatives from Quad countries and other Indo-Pacific nations will share their experiences, engage in simulations, and develop strategies to tackle future health emergencies. Participants will also visit India’s National Centres for Disease Control and Vector-Borne Disease Control to observe the country’s health infrastructure and preparedness systems.

This event represents a significant step toward strengthening global health security and ensuring that nations are better equipped to handle future public health challenges together.