A study on assessment of core capacities for Public Health Emergencies of International Concern (PHEIC) at a selected Point of Entry (PoE) of North India.

Globalization and the spread of disease have made public health a matter of international concern. International airports, ports and ground crossings are required to have health units for undertaking public health measures during routine times and specific measures during the time of Public health emergency of International Concern (PHEIC). The exposure to hazards, the conditions of vulnerability that are present and insufficient capacity or measures to reduce or cope with the potential negative consequences calls upon proactive, all hazards approach, especially, at International Points of entry. Regarding the public health response, articles 5 and 13 of the (IHR) International Health Regulations (2005) state that each country shall develop, strengthen and maintain as soon as possible but not later than five years from the entry into force of this regulations, the capacity to respond well and quickly to PHEIC as set out in the core capacity requirements for surveillance and response. This legal instrument contain rights and obligation for countries concerning prevention, surveillance and response health measures applied to international travelers at Point of Entry (POEs). All 194 WHO Member States including India agreed to implement the IHR (2005). International travel can pose various risks to health, depending on the characteristics of both the traveler and the travel. Failure to respond in a timely manner by local public health authorities undermines the IHR and can be detrimental to the national economy. Border Health strategies minimizing the risk of importation and exportation of disease through POEs, as well as across porous land borders, are generally not a common feature of national surveillance systems. Border health approaches, for the most part, can leverage tools and strategies in the existing public health systems and infrastructure. The risk of international spread of diseases is decreased through effective standing public health measures and response capacity at designated airports, ports and ground crossings in all countries. Similarly, the prime aim of Airport and Border Quarantine, Amritsar is to prevent any infectious disease entering into our country which is not prevalent in India e.g. Yellow Fever, SARS, Zika. Meaningful interaction with other agencies will be a key factor strategy implementation of International Health Regulations, 2005. This Research uses a WHO Core Capacity Assessment tool and In-depth Interviews with travelers using the ground crossing ICP, Attari as a Point of Entry into India or Exit from India as well as the officials present at the ground crossing who are willing to participate in the study.