Bhutan launches USD 4.95M Pandemic Fund Project to strengthen One Health Approach

The emergence of COVID-19 pandemic in 2019 has exposed the health systems of the countries and clearly indicated that there is lot more to do to prepare countries for the timely detection and response of public health threats. Bhutan is in the South Asian region, which is identified as one of the global hotspots for emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases. As it has long porous international borders, the country faces serious public health threats from emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases, including antibiotic resistance. The risk is enhanced due to increasing demand for livestock products leading to increased movements of animal or animal products both within the country and through imports.

In recent years, the country has experienced series of zoonotic diseases outbreaks such as HPAI, anthrax and rabies, and very recently COVID-19 primarily through the porous border in the south where the country experience both formal and informal movement of people, animals and animal products.

The Pandemic Fund project launched on July 5 by the Minister of Health Lyonpo Tandin Wangchuk and the Minister of Agriculture and Livestock Lyonpo Younten Phuntsho will focus on one health-human health, animal health, and the environment-to enhance the country’s capacity in Pandemic Prevention, Preparedness and Response.  The project funded by the Pandemic Fund with a total fund of USD 4.95 million was secured by the two ministries with technical support from the World Health Organization and the Food and Agriculture Organization.  

By the end of 2026, Bhutan aims to establish a functional early warning and holistic disease surveillance system, synergized approaches to prepare and respond to health emergencies and increased cooperation among one health sector for preparedness and response efforts.

Virtually addressing the launch, the FAO Representative for Bhutan and Nepal, Mr Ken Shimizu reinforced FAO’s support to the Royal Government of Bhutan and partners, to build Bhutan’s resilience to future pandemics.

FAO promotes a One Health approach as part of agrifood system transformation to anticipate, prevent, detect and control diseases that spread between animals and humans, tackle antimicrobial resistance, ensure food safety, prevent environment-related human and animal health threats, combatting many other challenges impacting food security.

WHO Representative to Bhutan, Dr Bhupinder Kaur Aulakh and the Executive Head of the Pandemic Fund, Priya Basu, among other attended the launch.