Dr Bhupinder Kaur Aulakh joined as the WHO Representative for WHO Country Office in Bhutan on 14 August 2023. She has over 25 years of experience in public health. Prior to this posting, Dr Aulakh served as the Executive Officer to the Regional Director, WHO South-East Asia Region (2021-2023), Deputy WHO Representative, Bangladesh (2020-2021), Technical Officer, WHO HQ, Geneva (2010-2013). As a member of the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), she held senior policy level positions as Secretary of many departments like Health, Education, Social Welfare, Women and Child Development in the State government of Uttarakhand in India. In addition, Dr Aulakh worked as the Managing Director and Country Head of Futures Group International, India Office, an international public health consulting group. Dr Aulakh is a Medical Doctor and has completed her Master of Public Health from Harvard School of Public Health, USA. She was awarded a Presidential Scholarship by Harvard University. She won the Chief Minister's Award for the Best Secretary in the State of Uttarakhand, India in 2020 for excellence in public service. Dr Aulakh joined the Indian Civil Service as a member of the Indian Administrative Service in 1997.
1. Could you please tell us about the Pandemic Fund project in Bhutan?
The Pandemic Fund project in Bhutan aims to strengthen the country’s health systems and preparedness in responding to future pandemics. Recognizing the vulnerabilities exposed by the COVID-19 pandemic, Bhutan has taken steps to build resilience by investing in critical health infrastructure, early detection systems, and improving the capacity of healthcare workers. The Pandemic Fund supports these efforts by providing financial assistance and technical expertise to help the country enhance its response capabilities, including disease surveillance, emergency response coordination, and treatment facilities. This project aligns with Bhutan’s broader goals of achieving universal health coverage and ensuring that its healthcare system is well-equipped to handle future public health crises. Through collaboration with international partners and institutions, Bhutan is also fostering innovation in healthcare delivery and promoting community engagement to ensure timely and effective responses in case of future pandemics. The initiative represents a proactive approach to global health security, ensuring that Bhutan remains prepared for potential challenges.
2. For the next three years, what improvements would you like to see in the pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response national capacities in Bhutan?
Over the next three years, Bhutan should focus on several key areas to enhance its pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response capacities. A primary goal is to enhance surveillance capacity across human, animal, and environmental health sectors by improving real-time surveillance systems. This will involve interlinking and creating a platform for information sharing to ensure efficient early warning, especially for zoonotic diseases, and strengthening surveillance data quality and management through standardized and timely reporting of event.
In addition, improving laboratory systems is essential. Bhutan must expand the range of diagnostic tests for detecting priority diseases, ensuring quality assurance and biosafety across reference laboratories. Enhancing laboratory capacity, especially for zoonotic and priority diseases, will be key to better pandemic detection and response. Furthermore, a focus on strengthening biosafety and biosecurity systems will ensure higher safety standards in handling hazardous biological materials.
Addressing human resource shortages and technical capacity gaps is another priority. Rolling out the Field Epidemiology Training Program (FETP) will help build skilled professionals in advanced epidemiological techniques such as risk analysis and disease forecasting. The project must also address gaps in infection prevention, outbreak response, and risk communication, especially in critical areas like referral hospitals, food safety, and Point of Entry (POE) management.
Additionally, the implementation of a One Health strategy will strengthen cross-sector collaboration among human, animal, and environmental health authorities. This holistic approach will mitigate risks associated with zoonotic diseases and improve overall health resilience. Finally, strengthening community ownership and leadership will empower local communities, ensuring that they are at the forefront of pandemic preparedness and response efforts, leading to a more resilient public health system.
By focusing on these improvements, Bhutan can establish a robust, well-coordinated system capable of managing future health crises effectively.
3. What are the 3-5 ingredients to ensure a successful Pandemic Fund project in Bhutan?
Strong commitment from senior leadership is crucial. Their active involvement in strategic decision-making will drive the project forward, ensuring it aligns with national priorities and has the necessary political backing.
Dedicated focal points at both national and local levels are vital for smooth implementation. These individuals can ensure that the project is managed effectively, monitor progress, and address promptly any challenges that arise.
Effective coordination across human, animal, and environmental health sectors is essential. This collaborative approach will enhance surveillance, laboratory systems, and response capacities, creating a more resilient system for pandemic prevention and preparedness.
Timely and regular convening as per the need of the Inter-Ministerial Committee for One Health (IMCOH) to monitor progress, address challenges, and provide actionable recommendations will significantly enhance the smooth and effective implementation of the project. This proactive approach ensures that issues are swiftly identified and resolved, keeping the project on track, and aligned with its objectives.
4. What role do increasing investments play in strengthening national capacities for pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response (PPR)?
Increasing investments play a transformative role in strengthening Bhutan's national capacities for pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response (PPR). By prioritizing targeted financial resources, the country can build a resilient healthcare system capable of facing future health crises head-on. Investments in infrastructure—such as upgrading laboratory and diagnostic capacities—will enhance Bhutan’s ability to rapidly detect, monitor, and respond to emerging threats. With better-equipped facilities, early detection systems can be implemented to identify outbreaks before they escalate.
Moreover, investments in human resource development are critical. By expanding training programs like the Field Epidemiology Training Program (FETP), Bhutan can ensure it has a skilled and prepared workforce, capable of applying advanced epidemiological methods and managing public health emergencies effectively. Additionally, boosting community engagement and leadership through investments will empower local stakeholders to take proactive roles in disease surveillance and response.
The integration of digital technologies and real-time data systems also depends on increased funding. A well-funded One Health approach, which integrates human, animal, and environmental health, will foster cross-sector collaboration, strengthening Bhutan’s overall preparedness and response mechanisms. Increased investments act as the foundation for sustainable pandemic resilience, positioning Bhutan to safeguard public health and mitigate future risks more efficiently and effectively.
5. What are some lessons learned from past outbreaks that Bhutan that could be applied to the implementation of the Pandemic Fund project in Bhutan (particularly looking at the areas of surveillance, laboratories and health workforce)?
Bhutan’s experience with past outbreaks, including the COVID-19 pandemic, has provided valuable lessons that can be applied to the implementation of the Pandemic Fund project. In the areas of surveillance, laboratories, and the health workforce, several key insights have emerged:
- Strengthening Surveillance Systems: During previous outbreaks, Bhutan recognized the importance of real-time and integrated surveillance systems for early detection and response. One key lesson is the need for better data integration across sectors, particularly human, animal, and environmental health, to track zoonotic diseases effectively. Standardized event reporting and timely data sharing between sectors are critical to early warning and rapid response efforts.
- Laboratory Capacity Building: The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted gaps in diagnostic capabilities, including the limited range of tests for detecting emerging diseases. Enhancing laboratory infrastructure, expanding the scope of diagnostic testing, and ensuring robust biosafety and biosecurity protocols are essential. Investments in quality assurance and specimen transport are also needed to improve accuracy and efficiency in disease detection and control.
- Strengthening the Health Workforce: The need for a skilled and adaptable health workforce became evident during past outbreaks. Bhutan learned that enhancing workforce capacity through training in epidemiology, ICU care management, disease modeling, infection prevention, and control is crucial. The rollout of programs like the Field Epidemiology Training Program (FETP) is vital to equip healthcare professionals with the necessary skills for outbreak response and surveillance. Additionally, addressing human resource shortages across sectors and ensuring surge capacity during emergencies are critical for a swift and effective pandemic response.
By applying these lessons to the Pandemic Fund project, Bhutan can strengthen its preparedness and response capabilities, making it better equipped to handle future health emergencies.
6. Is there anything you want to share before we conclude the conversation?
Before we conclude, I would like to express my gratitude to Headquarters for providing this platform to showcase the invaluable support offered by the Pandemic Fund. This initiative is crucial in building a resilient health system that is prepared for any emergencies. By enhancing our surveillance, laboratory capacities, and workforce readiness, we can ensure that Bhutan is better equipped to face future health challenges. Thank you for your commitment to strengthening our national health security and for your continued support in these efforts. Together, we are paving the way for a safer and healthier future.