On 28 January 2025, the WHO South-East Asia Region convened a virtual meeting to review the implementation and plan future activities under the Pandemic Influenza Preparedness (PIP) Partnership Contribution (PC) High-Level Implementation Plan III (HLIP-III), with a particular focus on Output 1 (Policies and Plans) and Output 2 (Collaborative Surveillance). Held at the outset of the second year of the 2024–2025 biennium, the meeting brought together PIP PC focal points from the WHO South East Asia Regional Office (SEARO) and all ten PIP PC-recipient countries in the Region: Bangladesh, Bhutan, DPR Korea, India, Indonesia, Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Timor-Leste.
Key objectives of the virtual meeting:
- To provide updates on key aspects of PIP PC implementation in the WHO South-East Asia Region, including:
- The release of the final installment of PIP PC funds to recipient WHO Country Offices.
- The regional implementation plan for the second year of the biennium, including anticipated support from SEARO and WHO HQ.
- Financial monitoring and compliance tracking mechanisms for PIP PC; and
- Monitoring, reporting, and documentation related to the implementation of country workplans.
- To review the implementation status of PIP PC HLIP III Outputs 1 and 2 in SEAR recipient countries under the current biennium (2024–2025);
- Share updates on PIP PC implementation progress up to mid-January 2025.
- Present the planned activities for the remainder of 2025.
- key issues and challenges encountered, along with proposed mitigation strategies; and
- Discuss specific support required from the WHO Regional Office and Headquarters.
During the meeting, SEARO reiterated the importance of the PIP PC fund as a critical resource for supporting influenza pandemic preparedness at both regional and national levels, particularly considering evolving global circumstances. In terms of financial implementation for Outputs 1 and 2, the cumulative implementation rate across SEAR was reported at 52% as of 31 December 2024. SEARO expressed appreciation for the continued support of WHO Country Offices in responding to queries during the 10-month compliance review (January–October 2024) and for providing timely monthly implementation updates, which are essential for effective execution and monitoring of PIP PC activities in the Region.
SEARO also shared the planned activities for 2025, which include, but are not limited to: development of a historical profile of National Influenza Centres (NICs); documentation of HLIP II implementation; initiatives to strengthen laboratory capacity and procurement of essential laboratory resources; a regional landscape analysis of influenza vaccine procurement systems; and deliberations on the feasibility of conducting a physical bi-regional NIC meeting and the PIP Annual Review Meeting, amid existing uncertainties.
Similarly, the WHO Country Offices (WCOs) presented updates on the current implementation status as of mid-January 2025, along with their planned activities for the year. It was noted that most countries are on track with the implementation of activities under the 2024–2025 biennium. Indonesia has utilised approximately 77.85% of the allocated PIP PC funds, while the WCOs in Bhutan and Maldives indicated plans to accelerate implementation in 2025. Countries also highlighted challenges faced in advancing influenza pandemic preparedness and response activities, particularly in the context of ongoing global developments and funding uncertainties.
The virtual meeting concluded with the following key recommendations and proposed way forward:
- All WHO Country Offices (WCOs) were requested to map unfunded and unbudgeted components within their workplans and align these planned costs to the relevant human resource and activity workplans in GSM at the earliest. WCOs were also encouraged to plan and accelerate the implementation of PIP PC funds to ensure full utilisation by the end of 2025.
- In response to requests from several countries, the Regional Office will plan and facilitate a regional webinar on influenza case management, based on the latest WHO guidelines, with support from the Clinical Management Team at WHO Headquarters.
- The Regional Office will also engage in bilateral discussions with relevant WHO Country Offices to address technical and financial support needs.
- WHO Country Offices are encouraged to provide timely monthly updates on PIP implementation and highlight key activities that demonstrate the qualitative impact of PIP PC funding. These updates will contribute to the development of impact stories and case studies in the PIP annual reports.