Needed: More wealth in health

Context:  Countries which handled the pandemic best had made investments in health over the decades. For India, this is an opportunity to push through long-pending reforms in the health sector.

Challenges posed by COVID 19 pandemic:

• On the health care system:
  • The health systems in many of the wealthy countries struggled due to inadequate beds, supplies, healthcare workers and access to non-COVID-19 essential health services was affected.
  • More impact on frontline health workers, such as the accredited social health activists (ASHA).
• On Social front:
  • Infodemic: Information epidemic (termed an “infodemic”) in society led to fear, stigma and discrimination.
  • Vulnerable sections: including Migrants and poor were affected the most and children suffered due to closure of schools.
• On the economic front: Massive losses due to a reduction in business activities.

Lessons from the COVID pandemic:

• Investments in health: In contrast to Thailand and Vietnam which had made sustained investments in health over decades, countries that focused mainly on hospital-centric medical systems struggled
• Support the community health workers: who work informally and for a pittance
• Build community trust and participation: which is essential for the implementation of non-pharmacological interventions like face masks, hand washing and physical distancing.
• Better multi-sectoral response: During the pandemic, health staff, policymakers and technical experts in multiple domains worked together to identify and implement solutions.
• Timely and quality data: Without real-time data on testing, disease surveillance and other outcomes, tailored responses are near impossible.

Conclusion: It is time to accelerate health system reforms, towards universal health coverage which was the central goal of the National Health Policy 2017 and recommendation of the 15^th Finance Commission.