The Hindu Business Line : SARS: `Joint steps needed from Asian countries'

TO combat the spread of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) has suggested the adoption of a concerted approach without duplicating efforts by the Asian economies.

It is imperative for Asian economies to forge alliances to strengthen public health infrastructure and enhance laboratory and research capacity, FICCI said.

"Although technological cooperation has increased rapidly, both inter-firm and intra-firm, it is desirable that more networks are concretised between research & development (R&D) institutes and laboratories in the region. Especially, the research teams of China, India and Singapore should combine their capacities with institutions such as WHO and specialised laboratories worldwide," the chamber said.

Further, SARS should be studied as a joint project just as international cooperation facilitated genomic studies. This entails enhanced information sharing and networking systems. Although the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) has established an emergency infectious diseases network, APEC EINet — that provides Internet-based information share, there is need to strengthen a mechanism that could immediately take stock of the situation and alert the relevant sectors. "This requires a joint public-private partnerships, since funding limitations often preclude active programmes," the chamber said.

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