Seizing the moment at the WHO

Context: As WHO executive body chair, India will have to navigate the power landscape with candour and tact.

India’s Policy Approach:

• Focus on epidemic prevention: The focus should shift towards identifying the animal to human transmission origins of SARS CoV2. 
• Fast-track Review: of the WHO’s and China’s early response to the out break to illuminate best practices and areas of improvement.
• Promote the multilateral governance mechanism: through appropriate institutions. 

• E.g. envisaged voluntary pooling mechanism to collect patent rights to assure affordable vaccine.

• Keep aloof of Taiwan’s issue: the current issue of re-seating Taiwan at the WHA has more to do with domestic political manoeuvring than Chinese ostracism.
• Ban on wild animals’: trade and consumption as two-third of emerging infections and diseases now arising from wildlife.