India Strengthens Pandemic Preparedness with Support from World Bank's Pandemic Fund

Launched in 2022, the Pandemic Fund is a global initiative supported by the World Bank that provides financial resources to low- and middle-income countries to enhance pandemic preparedness.

India has significantly bolstered its healthcare infrastructure in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to Priya Basu, Executive Head of the Pandemic Fund at the World Bank. 

In an interaction with ANI, Basu commended India's proactive measures aimed at strengthening health systems and preparing for future public health emergencies.

She highlighted flagship government initiatives such as Ayushman Bharat and the National Digital Health Mission (NDHM) as central components of India's long-term healthcare strategy. 

These schemes aim to improve access to affordable healthcare while building a more resilient digital health infrastructure.

"Efforts have been made in India to improve access to healthcare and healthcare infrastructure. There's Ayushman Bharat and the National Digital Health Mission," Basu stated.

Learning from COVID-19

Basu emphasized that while it is challenging for any country to fully prepare for a pandemic, COVID-19 offered valuable lessons. 

She cited the importance of building surge capacity in healthcare systems, such as rapid testing, availability of personal protective equipment (PPE), and sufficient ICU beds and medical equipment.

"Lessons that involve having that surge capacity to quickly ramp up testing and strengthen ICU readiness are crucial," she noted.

She acknowledged that globally, countries are still not fully prepared for the next outbreak but reiterated that ongoing efforts, including financial and technical support, are underway to bridge these gaps.

Role of the Pandemic Fund

Launched in 2022, the Pandemic Fund is a global initiative supported by the World Bank that provides financial resources to low- and middle-income countries to enhance pandemic preparedness. 

India has been both a founding contributor and a beneficiary of the fund.

"India is one of the countries that came forward right in the beginning. It's a founding contributor and a voting member on the governing board," Basu said.

India is currently benefiting from a $25 million grant under the Pandemic Fund, which is blended with loans from the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank. It also receives technical assistance from the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO).

The funding supports India's One Health mission, which aims to strengthen animal health surveillance, veterinary laboratories, the veterinary workforce, and on-farm biosecurity—all critical to managing zoonotic diseases that could trigger future pandemics.

Basu also referenced a joint study by the World Bank and WHO, which estimates that $150 billion over five years could adequately prepare all low- and middle-income countries for future pandemics — a fraction of the trillions of dollars lost during the COVID-19 crisis.

"The investments needed are modest compared to the potential global economic losses if we are not prepared," she concluded.

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