As the number of Covid-19 cases continue to grow in India, the country has adopted a multi-pronged strategy to register a victory in the battle against an unseen enemy. The government has employed various approaches to contain the spread of virus, including the deployment of paramilitary and defence personnel for readying new quarantine centres, and providing financial aid to the people worst hit by the pandemic.
Despite the wide gap that exists between the demand and supply of the tertiary and quaternary medical care in the country, the exemplary cooperation and coordination on par of private and public healthcare providers has really stood apart in this time of grave adversity.
The treatment and containment of Covid-19 is the biggest challenge a densely populated country like India faces. If the outbreak ever goes beyond the control of the authorities, the country will be dealing with enormous waves of patients with a meagre number of skilled medical professionals and life support systems.
The lack of medical resources is not the only challenge that India faces in the way of ensuring optimal healthcare for its people. The exodus of daily wage workers from the metros towards the rural areas puts a large number of people at an increased risk, more so since the hinterlands already struggle with an alarming lack of accessibility to basic healthcare facilities.
Along with the public healthcare system, the role of private medical care providers also becomes pivotal at this juncture. From providing doorstep medical care through mobile medical units (MMUs) to facilitating remote consultation through telemedicine, the contribution of private healthcare players has been remarkable.
Medical care experts cite the government’s prompt response as well as the Indian medical community’s keen eye on the global Covid-19 developments to be the key factors that are helping develop a robust response to the pandemic, as both the public healthcare system and the private medical care providers are working hand in hand.
While medical and sanitation workers are working tirelessly to make the sick better, agencies such as the police and the media are also doing their bit to ensure optimal awareness and protection to the people. It requires contribution from the common people as well to ensure the success of our healthcare system.
The best way to achieve that is by ensuring good personal health and hygiene, which can directly help in reducing the burden from the shoulders of medical care professionals. With responsible conduct and sharing the load, the country’s healthcare system can definitely save the ship from drowning.
