AIIMS, Delhi, has been selected as one of the World Health Organization’s (WHO) global network sites for pandemic preparedness and emergency response under the Global Influenza Surveillance and Response System (GISRS).
During the Covid-19 crisis, WHO initiated the Unity Study network to enable rapid investigations during pandemics or epidemics caused by emerging or re-emerging pathogens. As one of only five sites in the WHO South-East Asia Region, AIIMS-Delhi will play a central role in response readiness, conducting prompt evaluations of critical public health tools and supplementing surveillance systems during emergencies.
The Unity Study protocols, developed by WHO, provide standardized research methods that can be implemented in both inter-pandemic periods and active outbreaks. These protocols facilitate the rapid collection and sharing of epidemiological and biological data, allowing for evidence-based public health policy and timely global responses.
Dr. Puneet Misra, Professor of Community Medicine at AIIMS, emphasized the ongoing need for such capabilities. He noted that the Covid-19 pandemic highlighted the value of generic, standardized data protocols across countries, making health systems more capable of managing large-scale emergencies.
The newly designated centre at AIIMS-Delhi will continue its work even outside of pandemic periods, contributing to broader public health actions, building capacity, and strengthening preparedness systems to ensure ongoing readiness for any future health emergencies.
