Healthcare Void

Context: At the time of COVID-19 pandemic, the non-COVID patients are deprived of basic health care facilities due to lockdowns.

Issues with the lockdown:

• Induced institutional sloth for too long and distracted focus from two-pronged testing and compulsory masking. 
• Impacted on all section of life especially the non- COVID diseased patient.

Impact of COVID on Access to healthcare:

• Institutional deliveries dropped up to 28%, 
• Major surgeries fell 60%, 
• Outpatient treatment for heart ailments and cancer fall by over 70%
• Up to 51% fewer logging of acute cardiac emergencies.
• Treatment for ailments like tuberculosis, diabetes and asthma and screening of new-born for congenital disabilities were badly affected.

Impact of long-term inaccessibility to healthcare systems 

• Resurgence of infectious diseases in children due to missed immunization.
• Worsening of diseases outcomes, quality of life and life expectancy for adults.
• The economic cost of the healthcare system will be high in post COVID condition.

Present Healthcare problem: 

• Shortage of doctors: nurses, beds and community outreach personnel like ASHA workers even before the COVID crisis makes the situation worse for the non-COVID patients.

• Side-effects of unlocking: Unlocking made a subsequent spike in the number of COVID cases in many areas which kept most healthcare workforce already occupied.

• Rise of Other Disease: Many other diseases are causing as many morbidities and fatalities as lockdowns have impacted too much with essential activities.