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Home / UPSC Editorials / Public Health Emergency Management Act (PHEMA)

Public Health Emergency Management Act (PHEMA): Objectives & Features | UPSC Editorials

Last Updated on Oct 07, 2024
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The COVID-19 pandemic highlights major chinks in global public health systems and reiterates the need for having more comprehensive preparedness and response mechanisms. An expert group constituted by NITI Aayog has built up on this lesson plan with a robust framework that faces any future health emergency. The report, "Future Pandemic Preparedness and Emergency Response: A Framework for Action," recommends new Public Health Emergency Management Act implementation and measures to ensure prompt and effective action within the opening stages of an outbreak.

Analysis based on 

Editorial Preparing for the next pandemic: what NITI Aayog report says published in The Indian Express on October 3rd, 2024

Topics for UPSC Prelims

Public Health Emergency Management Act (PHEMA), NITI Aayog, COVID-19 Pandemic, Emergency Health Infrastructure, National Health Policy, Government Initiatives in Health Sector, Disaster Management Act

Topics for UPSC Mains

Challenges in Implementing Health Legislation, Public Health Infrastructure, Governance and Policy Measures for Health Emergencies

About the Public Health Emergency Management Act (PHEMA)

The proposed Public Health Emergency Management Act, or PHEMA, would enhance India's capacity to meet public health emergencies and pandemics. PHEMA would replace the lacunae of the Epidemic Diseases Act of 1897, as well as the National Disaster Management Act of 2005-for the same acts were used in the COVID-19 pandemic, which seemed woefully inadequate when dealing with the specifics of a health calamity. PHEMA is put in place to give a comprehensive legal framework for authorities in terms of enforcing measures on health, resource management, and coordination during public health emergencies.

Key Provisions of the Public Health Emergency Management Act (PHEMA)

PHEMA advocates for certain distinct powers and mechanisms as far as public health emergencies are concerned, which include compulsory screenings, quarantines, movement controls. Also, it seeks to establish a framework in the management of the allocation of resources, interagency coordination, and governance aspects while dealing with the crises.

  • Comprehensive Definitions and Powers: It shall define words like "hazardous," "infectious," "communicable diseases," and "epidemic" clearly. It will enumerate detailed powers concerning obligatory screening, quarantine, and restriction on movement in order to effectively curb outbreaks.
  • Empowerment of Health Agencies: This act will empower public health agencies at the national and state levels to react swiftly when emergencies occur. That ranges from establishing health cadres with training and readiness as first responders to handle the emergencies.
  • Coordination and Governance: PHEMA will have an Empowered Group of Secretaries (EGoS) under the chairmanship of the Cabinet Secretary that will oversee governance, finance, R&D, surveillance, and partnerships. Subcommittees for specific functions and SOPs will also be developed.
  • Strengthening Disease Surveillance: A biosecurity and biosafety network will be instituted at the national level with research institutions, containment facilities for biosafety, and genome sequencing centers that raise an alarm and respond to biological hazards.
  • Emergency Vaccine Bank Establishment: An emergency vaccine bank shall be established to ensure vaccines are made available locally or internationally for immediate deployment.
  • Epidemiology Forecasting and Modeling: A forecasting and modeling network for epidemiology shall be developed for prediction of transmission dynamics and monitoring the effectiveness of countermeasures that include vaccinations.
  • Independent Drug Regulatory Body: The CDSCO will be an independent body with special powers for timely intervention in innovative health products in times of medical emergencies.

Read the article on Preventive Healthcare!

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Significance of the Public Health Emergency Management Act (PHEMA)

This will enable prompt decisive action during health emergencies through the supply of a very clear legal framework. In this respect, PHEMA puts forward pandemics and other health crises as well-prepared and resilient.

  • Sharper Response: PHEMA has defined powers and responsibilities clearly. This would allow for a quicker and coordinated public health response in emergencies. This would serve best in the first 100 days of an outbreak.
  • Legal Clarity and Authority: The act will ensure clear legal provision for health measures so there is minimal confusion between state and federal interpretations, hence public health agencies will be well justified to act authoritatively.
  • Comprehensive Preparedness: PHEMA will address all categories of health emergencies including epidemic, pandemic, bioterrorism, and the impact from any disaster on a health basis thereby culminating in comprehensive preparedness for public health.
  • Enhanced Coordination: EGoS along with other coordinating bodies, would strengthen the act, thereby ensuring improved governance and resource management during health emergencies.
  • Enhanced Surveillance and Research: Measures towards disease surveillance, bio-security as well as R&D initiatives would make India even more capable of tracing, monitoring, and countering biological threats better.
  • Vaccines and Drugs: An emergency bank on vaccines, coupled with empowerment of CDSCO would ensure the urgent availability of critical health interventions.

Read the article on the Health Care Sector in India!

Challenges in the Implementation of PHEMA

Despite the promise, there are many critical challenges for which proper management is needed before successful implementation. Some of these include problems of interagency coordination and resource use. Part and parcel of the framework, these issues have to be approached first and foremost in facilitating its intended function.

  • Coordination: There has to be coordinated operations amongst different government agencies into it, that are concerned with health, finance, defense, and disaster management.
  • Resource Allocation: There is a challenge to meet the requisite funding and resources for health emergencies in many resource-constrained environments.
  • Legal and Bureaucratic Hurdles: The enactment and implementation of a new legislative architecture will always face bureaucratic time delays and legal hurdles.
  • Public Compliance: The imposition of movement restriction and compulsory screening measures depends on public cooperation, a tough nut to crack without wide acceptance and knowledge.
  • Infrastructure Disparities: Advanced surveillance networks, vaccine banks and biosafety labs require huge infrastructural investments that are not spread equally across all regions.

Read the article on the National Public Health Museum!

What is a Pandemic?

A pandemic refers to an outbreak of disease that spreads worldwide, meaning when a new pathogen comes into existence and affects people in a large number across various continents. This is different from epidemic or endemic diseases, which occur within specific or limited geographic areas, hence impacting health, society, and the economy in a huge way.

Difference Between Epidemic, Endemic and Pandemic

These terms describe the extent and severity at which disease will spread; epidemics occur in given regions, endemics persist throughout specific areas, and pandemics reach across the globe. Elucidation of these differences is rendered useful in shaping an appropriate public health response.

Difference Between Epidemic, Endemic & Pandemic

Aspect

Epidemic

Endemic

Pandemic

Definition

An outbreak of a disease that occurs suddenly and affects a large number of individuals within a specific geographic area or population.

A disease that is consistently present at a baseline level in a particular geographic area or population.

An outbreak of a disease that occurs on a global scale, affecting people across multiple countries or continents.

Geographic Spread

Limited to a specific area or population.

Confined to a particular region or population but consistently present.

Widespread across countries or continents.

Number of Cases

Higher than normal incidence in a specific area, often rising rapidly.

Regular and predictable incidence, typically at a steady level.

Massive number of cases across large geographic areas.

Duration

Can be short-term but may last longer if not controlled.

Long-term presence within a region; stable over time.

May last for months to years, depending on the disease and response measures.

Examples

- Ebola virus outbreak in West Africa - Zika virus outbreak in the Americas

- Malaria in parts of Sub-Saharan Africa - Chickenpox in some parts of the world

- COVID-19 - H1N1 influenza (swine flu) pandemic

Public Health Response

Focused, targeted measures to control and eliminate the outbreak within the affected area.

Continuous measures to manage and prevent the disease within the population.

Extensive, coordinated international efforts to control and mitigate the disease spread.

Impact on Society

Significant impact on the affected area; can overwhelm local healthcare systems temporarily.

Ongoing impact, manageable within existing healthcare systems if well-resourced.

Profound global impact on health, economies, and societies; can overwhelm healthcare systems worldwide.

Read the article on the Pandemic & Public Health System!

Challenges Associated with Public Health Emergency Management in India

India suffers from a number of deficiencies in managing public health emergencies, of which include a highly fragmented health system and an absence of the surveillance infrastructure. These have to be addressed in order to build the country's ability to respond to emergencies.

  • Fragmented Health System: India has an incredibly fragmented health system. Medical infrastructure and services vary between cities and villages across the states with largely differing healthcare delivery systems. A unified response to an emergency is very much complicated by these differences.
  • Weak Disease Surveillance: A weak capacity for disease surveillance and early detection will cause at times the lax identification of emerging health threats before response is made.
  • Poor Financing of Public Health: Often, a weak pool of public health financing results in inadequate preparedness in research infrastructures and equipment during emergencies.
  • Workforce Inadequacy: There is often, therefore, a weak number of quality health providers ready to assist such as those in public health, epidemiology, and emergency management.
  • Public Awareness and Behavior: Low public awareness and resistance to health measures may oppose controlling the spread of the disease and implementing preventive measures.

Read the article on the National Health Policy!

Suggestions and Way Forward

India must strengthen health infrastructure, boost the surveillance system, and enhance international cooperation in public health emergencies. Only with the above efforts and the PHEMA enacted, India will be further strengthened against future health emergencies.

  • Build Health Infrastructure: Strengthen health infrastructure, especially in rural and underserved areas, so that all of them have the capability to respond effectively in a health emergency.
  • Enhance Surveillance: Develop strong systems for disease surveillance and early warning systems with advanced technologies and data analytics for better outbreak detection and response.
  • Provide Sufficient Public Health Funding: Provide appropriate public health funding for emergency preparedness, research, vaccine development, and healthcare service delivery.
  • Training and Capacity Building: Invest in training programs for health care workers, public health professionals, and emergency responders to create a well-trained workforce that can respond to health crises.
  • Public Awareness Campaigns: Major public awareness campaigns shall be initiated to educate the people regarding health emergencies, preventive measures, and compliance with health directives.
  • Promote International Cooperation: Provide for international cooperation and coordination with other international organizations and countries that share similar purposes, to mutually share knowledge, resources, and best practices in pandemic preparedness and response.
  • Legal and Policy reforms: Ensure prompt legislative action and subsequent implementation of PHEMA which contains clear guidelines for coordinating interagency efforts, resource mobilization, and public health authority during emergencies.
  • Research and Development: Support research on priority pathogens, diagnostics, therapeutics, and vaccines, to know and stay ahead of any possible health threats and advance response capabilities.
  • Durable Supply Chains: Resource durable supply chains of critical medical supplies, equipment, and vaccines so that they are available at the right time during health emergencies.
  • Community Engagement: Involve local leaders and organizations in preparedness efforts in order to foster trust, facilitate communication, and assist in the development of capacities in local structures.

Read the article on the Public Health Challenges in India!

Conclusion

The NITI Aayog report on pandemic preparedness stresses the need for adopting a holistic framework for tackling health emergencies going forward. Proposing the Public Health Emergency Management Act is quite pertinent toward this end: it addresses what has been lacking and makes sure there is coordinated, efficient and effective response to pandemics, such as other public health crises. India can better prepare and mitigate potential impacts from future pandemics by strengthening health infrastructure, enhancing surveillance, increasing funding, and fostering public awareness in order to safeguard public health and national well-being.

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UPSC Previous Year Questions

Year

Question

2021

“Besides being a moral imperative of a Welfare State, primary health structure is a necessary precondition for sustainable development.” Analyse.

UPSC Practice Questions
  1. Discuss the significance of the Public Health Emergency Management Act (PHEMA) as proposed by the NITI Aayog's expert group in enhancing India's readiness for future pandemics. What are the key provisions of the act, and how do they address the shortcomings observed during the COVID-19 pandemic? (250 words)
  2. Analyze the key challenges in implementing the Public Health Emergency Management Act (PHEMA) in India. What policy measures can be adopted to overcome these challenges and ensure effective management of future health crises? (250 words)
  3. Compare and contrast the concepts of epidemic, endemic, and pandemic. How do these differences influence the public health response strategies at local, national, and global levels? Provide examples to support your argument. (250 words)

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