It’s Time to Reboot the Indian Healthcare System: Understanding the lacunaes of Healthcare System and Efficacy of Existing Legislations

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic is straining health systems worldwide. The rapidly increasing demand on health facilities and health care workers threatens to leave some health systems overstretched and unable to operate effectively. During the 2014-2015 Ebola outbreak, the increased number of deaths caused by measles, malaria, HIV/AIDS, and tuberculosis attributable to health system failures exceeded deaths from Ebola. With over 1.6 million positive cases across the world, the number of people infected by this virus has been greater than any other pandemic in recent history. Though the case fatality ratio for COVID-19 has been lower than SARS of 2003, the greater spread of this infection has resulted in a significant total death toll.

Governments of different countries are reacting differently to this pandemic. On one extreme is Sweden, where while the people have been advised to follow social distancing and certain other precautions, life is going on as usual with all workplaces, educational institutes and malls etc. open. On the other hand, are the countries like India, where there is a total lockdown barring essential services. India has also suspended all travel- domestic as well as international as part of this lockdown.

The Covid-19 pandemic crisis is a reminder of the importance of investing in the healthcare sector for any country. The low priority accorded to health has translated into limited investments in both health infrastructure and health data. India has traditionally spent less on health, 90% of government expenditure being on the revenue side. 

This Article would therefore discuss the various lacunaes existing in the society to deal with the ongoing pandemic and inefficiency of existing laws.