Skeletal Health Services Cannot Resist Pandemics

The waves of the pandemic catching the nation in its vortex once again brought back into focus the gross inadequacies of the health sector. The available skeletal healthcare facilities that offer nominal protection from diseases is a major reason for the high poverty levels. Estimates show that the deficit in health facilities and the burden of healthcare expenditure are the reason why around 39 million people fall below the poverty line each year. And the large out-of-pocket health expenditures account for more than half the households stuck in poverty.

So, many nations have focused on eliminating inequities for ensuring access to safe effective healthcare and for protecting the sick from any significant financial burden by guaranteeing universal health coverage. But unfortunately, India’s efforts in this direction remain grossly inadequate. The country’s annual health index reports, which track the health systems and outcomes in the states, including the recent one for 2019–20, reveal that not only are health facilities grossly inadequate but they also exist with wide disparities. Worst still, the pace of improvement in healthcare has also been glacial.