Dr KM Cherian, CEO & Chairman, Frontier Lifeline Hospital opines that the health sector requires efficient form of regulation to address the issue of shortage of supplies, and it is absolutely necessary that India scales up its solutions, efforts to contain the pandemic
With the global crisis of the COVID-19 pandemic growing, the healthcare sector has emerged and rushed to the aid of those affected. While the genesis of this pandemic dated earlier in 2019 at a marketplace in Wuhan, China, the virus has made its way in for global dominance. As the virus progressed, the alert to stay indoors have become more of dire necessity, much rather a precaution.
In such a scenario, the government has allowed high-quality accredited private labs to research and test coronavirus samples. Through a thorough supervision of the entire process, testing of the samples are only allowed after these private laboratories receive the necessitated authorisation from the government.
In addition to this, the Ayushman Bharat scheme has stepped up to offer hospitalisation packages for ICUs, high dependency units and normal wards. While there is no provision for isolation wards under the health assurance scheme, that the cost of these wards which caters to underprivileged citizens will be borne by PMJAY, even though it will be higher than usual.
As the pandemic has expanded its way into the country, healthcare officials in India have been quick to identify and treat the affected. Maharashtra being one of the highly affected states, has taken drastic measures from shutting down educational institutions, to imposing Section 144, to urging residents to avoid non-essential travels in and out of the state.
Kerala, on the other hand, being the second state to be affected by the pandemic, has issued the order in Ernakulam to the private health sector and non-governmental agencies to contain the spread of COVID-19 in the state.
In India, over 50 laboratories are functional, but this isn’t sufficient enough. India, as a country has to ramp-up its contingency plans to tackle this pandemic, as there is quite a tight watch on supplies.
Apart from this, earlier this month, India had blocked its export of certain essential drugs, as well.
The unavailability of basic necessities of a civilian such as, hand wash, hand sanitiser, soaps, etc., are now out of stock in supermarkets.
Even though the country is currently testing only the affected in terms of their symptoms, there is no actual evidence of how the country is containing the virus as a whole. The awareness done through social media, print publications, etc. are game strong in conveying the message, but most people are simply carrying on their daily tasks just as they used to before the pandemic struck.
While multiple countries around the world are making way for nationalisation, the government of India needs to consider an efficient form of regulation in the health sector, as this is the only way to tackle the shortage of supplies.
In conclusion, India is the frontrunner for several economies amongst other countries, but in a crucial situation like ours, it is necessary that India scales up its solutions and efforts to contain the virus. Announcements such as remote working, doesn’t seem like the right option for an informal economy such as ours, because over 90 per cent of the Indian workforce, are in the informal sector.
Civilians are either self-employed or into casual labour, where provisions such as minimum wages, social security, and the option of taking a leave is a lost cause.