Union Health Secretary addresses UN High-Level Meeting on pandemic preparedness

Union Health Secretary Punya Salila Srivastava represented India at the UN High-Level Meeting on 'Pandemic Prevention, Preparedness and Response' in New York on 25 September 2026, reaffirming India's commitment to global health security. She noted India supplied 300 million vaccine doses to around 100 countries and two UN entities, and provided medical assistance to over 150 countries during COVID-19. Referring to the WHO Pandemic Agreement adopted in May 2025, she called for a fair Pathogen Access and Benefit Sharing (PABS) system ensuring countries contributing pathogens receive timely access to vaccines and therapeutics, and urged that digital public infrastructure be recognised as a global public good. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus called for urgent action to conclude PABS negotiations.