We are encountering a radical change in the world as the novel SARS-Cov-2 which was originated in the Wuhan, Hubei province of China has engulfed the entire world. Hitherto this Covid-19 is the seventh coronavirus infecting the human race. The human health crisis triggered by the current pandemic has taught us that the world economy and life is no longer operating as usual. As per world meter on 19th August 2020, the numbers of Covid-19 infected cases have been reached more than 22.4 million with 787,101 deaths. India, the largest democracy in the world is in the third position after the USA and Brazil in the total number of positive cases (Fig. 1).
Fig.1 (A) Top ten countries in the world reflecting the total number of Covid-19 infected cases (https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/) (B) Monthly trend of Covid-19 cases in India till August-2020 (https://prsindia.org/covid-19/cases)
On average, more than 35,000 positive cases were added daily to the total numbers of infected cases in July, while by the mid of August this number raised to an average of 60,000 cases. This abrupt rise in total positive cases is attributed to the relaxing of lockdown restrictions and the enhanced number of tests being carried out. So far the peak has not reached in India and the numbers of cases are still rising.
Flaws in preparedness to fight the pandemic
The incidence of the current pandemic has reflected the shortcomings and flaws in the health infrastructure, medical research, and political will in the largest democracy of the world. For the fiscal year, 2018-19 India’s public health expenditure was around 1.28 % of the country’s GDP while in the United States it exhibited a total expenditure of more than 17 % of total GDP. The shortage of expenditure on public health made the country vulnerable to a crisis of pandemic. This situation is aggravated by the paucity of isolation beds, ventilators, and ICU beds with a remarkable variation across the states. The pandemic has exposed the flaws of our health system.
As per the latest estimates in India, there are only 0.55 hospital beds per 1000 persons, and of the total available beds < 5% are predicted to be with ICU facility. Our neighbor, China has about 4.05 beds per 1000 persons. While in rural India the ICU facilities are either very poor or not present at all.
Young India is not invincible
World health organization (WHO) has already warned that youths are not invincible and are vulnerable to the ill effects of Covid-19 equivalent to their elders. More than 56 % population of the country is below the age of 30. As per the Times of India report on 10th July, 43% of total Covid-19 deaths in India lie in the age band of 30-59 years. The existence of comorbidities in the Indian population is another reason for being not invincible.
As per Global burden of disease study report (GBD, 1990-2016), 22 % of the Indians between the ages of 20-44 years are having hypertension problem, around 4 % of the Indian of age 15-44 years have Type-2 diabetes and about 2.5 million Indian are suffering from HIV of which 83 % are of 15-45 years old. Further, about a third of the adult population consumes tobacco and nearly 3 % of the adults are suffering from asthma. Therefore the concept of young India being invincible could not work out properly in case of the current pandemic.
Lessons from Covid-19 for India’s insight into future
• The current pandemic has taught a plethora of lessons to take away for a better future. To deal with the global pandemic the local government response is the core.
• Markets or big industries cannot be the primary backbone of a country like India. During the whole pandemic period, everyone rushed toward healthy food. Only the agriculture sector took the whole burden of the country’s economy on its shoulders and fulfilled the food demands of the population. Being self-sufficient in food production, we have supported the other needy countries like Afghanistan and Lebanon with the supply of staple food crops. Thus we need to proudly feel that agriculture is the backbone of our country and there is a need to reshape the policies for improvement in research and development of the agricultural industry. More infrastructure and investment is required for the research on agricultural plant-based remedies to fight the future epidemics or pandemics.
• There is an urgent need of strengthening the health sector of the country, especially the critical care segment. With the enhancement in health infrastructure, there should always be an action plan which could be implemented in the shortest possible time in case of any pandemic strikes. This can be accomplished by public-private partnerships of the health care system. Although recently in an emergency the government has announced the fund of 15,000 crores to ramp up the treatment facilities, to procure PPE kits, the arrangement of isolation and ICU beds, and purchase of testing kits. Thus there is a need for long term planning to invest in research and development of the health care system in the country to tackle the future epidemics adequately with no loss.
• The evidence-based harmony between science and political will is a must. The national policies should strengthen the research and development in key areas of the country ranging from the health care system, agriculture, science, and technology.
• We should establish a harmonious relationship with nature. The loss of environment, industrialization, urbanization, deforestation, increasing population and other anthropogenic activities has rendered the devastating loss to ecology and environment. The loss of natural habitats of wild animals, birds have forced the wild creatures to live in close vicinity of the human population. As we know that coronavirus is also a zoonotic disease and in the last few decades, the zoonotic disease incidence has remarkably increased. In the obsession of development, we have forgotten our environment. Thus we need to establish harmony with nature for the safeguard of the future.
• There is a need of strengthening our local business which could be the foundation of our economy and a self-reliant India.
• People should realize their ethical and moral values for the welfare of humanity.
• The collaboration of research institutes under a different government and private bodies is a must work in harmony to avoid unprecedented perils.
• Clean India should be the norm of every Indian to maintain hygiene in every corner of the country. Proper guidelines should be placed into practice for patients with comorbidity.
• Also, need to push and strengthen research on our indigenous traditional plant-based remedies to combat various ailments.
• There should be an adequate global warning system regarding emerging pandemics.
Excellent facts the author has highlighted in this article. Quite interesting points explored. Great Job.
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