title: Influenza pandemic preparedness and response: A review of legal frameworks in India.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  the potential of pandemics to cause global destabilization calls for robust pandemic preparedness plans with supportive health legislation. Few international studies have investigated their national legal preparedness in case of a pandemic. This study reviews India's legal preparedness in the face of an epidemic.
  
  
  METHODS
  this study reviewed and analyzed seminal publications pertinent to pandemic preparedness and relevant legal frameworks in India. The analyses are presented in matrix formats and reviewed by national experts.
  
  
  RESULTS
  current legal frameworks are largely 'policing' in nature. These provisions seem to be adequate to deal with small scale emergencies but do not appear to be sufficient for large scale health crises during pandemics.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  india needs a critical mass of public health legislations to make impact and not police acts to control epidemics. This study aims to assist policy makers to create comprehensive pandemic preparedness plans, translating preparedness 'on paper' to 'in practice'.
authors.affiliation: Public Health Foundation of India.
authors.forename: Manish
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kakkar
authors.forename: Sukanya
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hazarika
authors.forename: Sanjay
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zodpey
authors.forename: K Srinath
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Reddy
mesh_terms: D003140:Communicable Disease Control / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D006285:Health Planning / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D007252:Influenza Vaccines / Q000600:supply & distribution; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000517:prevention & control*; D058873:Pandemics / Q000517:prevention & control*
chemical_list: D007252:Influenza Vaccines