AIIMS New Delhi Designated as WHO Network Site for Pandemic Preparedness and Emergency Response

New Delhi: The All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi, has been officially inaugurated as a World Health Organisation (WHO) Network Site for Pandemic Preparedness and Emergency Response under the leadership of Dr Puneet Misra, Professor of Community Medicine.

The WHO’s Unity Studies are standardised research protocols developed to rapidly gather global data during pandemics of respiratory pathogens. These protocols help generate real-time, evidence-based insights for shaping public health policy.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Unity Studies proved to be a valuable tool for understanding disease patterns and evaluating health responses across countries of varying income levels.

Building on this success, the WHO is now establishing a global network of Unity Study Sites that can swiftly conduct investigations and share information during any future outbreak or epidemic.

Within the WHO’s South-East Asia Region (SEARO) — which includes 11 countries — only five sites have been selected for this network, and AIIMS New Delhi is one of them. This recognition highlights AIIMS’s exceptional contributions to medical research, disease surveillance, and health system preparedness in India and beyond.

The WHO Network Site at AIIMS will remain functional even outside pandemic periods, supporting public health research, training, and preparedness initiatives to ensure India’s health systems are ready for future challenges.

The inauguration ceremony held on November 13, 2025, was attended by Ms Payden, WHO Representative to India, who delivered the inaugural address.
Dr Umesh Kapil, President, EFI, welcomed the guests; Dr Puneet Misra presented an overview of the project; Dr K. K. Verma, Dean, AIIMS, shared institutional support and appreciation; and the event concluded with a vote of thanks by Dr Sanjay K. Rai, Professor, Centre for Community Medicine.