Non Covid Home Truths

Context:  The neglect of the traditional diseases like cancer and cardio vascular diseases due to shift of tertiary healthcare towards COVID-19 management, has proved to be gross injustice to other patients.

Criticality of other diseases

• More Daily deaths from cancer than Covid-19: i.e. 400 and 2,000 respectively.
• More number of deaths due to cardio vascular diseases: In 2016, more than 7000 daily deaths due to such disease in India was recorded by Lancet study.

Neglect of other diseases: Continuously straining the resources of hospitals towards one disease has increased pressure from other diseases leading to ‘hidden epidemic’.

• Postponement and delays in cancer check-ups: which is critical to its early detection and treatment.

• Delay in dialysis, organ transplant, cardiac surgeries and treatment of other critical diseases: will lead to higher mortality rates among these vulnerable categories of patients. 

• Over equipped super speciality tertiary care hospitals: with the Covid-19 patients in major cities will deprive cancer patients of their treatments.

• Double threat: related to Covid-19 and the stressful uncertainty regarding the future of their cancer treatment

• Psychological impact: associated with reduced bed-strength of a tertiary care hospital for cancer patients, can have a debilitating impact on their spirit to fight the disease.

Way Forward

• Instilling public confidence in the healthcare system: by adhering to the guidelines for separating covid and non covid patients.

• Not more than 30% beds: of tertiary super-speciality hospitals be used for Covid-19.
• Learn and adapt from other countries: health systems to ensure mistakes are not repeated.
• Release hospital resources for traditional or grave diseases: by ensuring effective home quarantining and basic medical care for Covid-19 patients. 

Conclusion: India’s fight against Covid-19 should not be at the cost of non-Covid patients.