The COVID-19 pandemic isn’t the first sudden global emergency faced by the globe. The past pandemics such as MERS, SARS, Ebola, Nipah, etc faced by people for ages, have improved scientific knowledge and systems of countries to prevent and treat them. India, on the other hand, doesn’t have to only fight with the coronavirus but also faces the crumbling Healthcare situation, lack of adequate sources, risk of transmission in rural areas and insufficient medical professionals. The novel coronavirus gives lessons that India can learn from pandemics, to properly handle any of the future emergencies, and prevent mortalities.
Policymakers should be ready with a comprehensive approach that is capable of providing relief to adversely infected individuals and keeping the flow of essential services on the wheel. Indian Medical doctors need security and care as much as the patients, maybe even more. Rules and facilities must be created regarding the security and care of frontline healthcare workers. Companies along with financial experts in the economy must be ready with plans to lessen the after-effect on the economy. All types of industries should come together to contain the outbreak. Public awareness regarding fake rumors and superstitions, vaccines, and preventive measures is necessary. Regular checking of the administration of all the active organizations. Cooperation with BMC to map coronavirus hotspots as well as with the police and doctors should be made compulsory upon people to curb the growing number of cases. Pooling and mobilizing all the resources in the country to deal with the pandemic.
India needs to learn from pandemics urgently and establish an infectious disease forecast system and a research team of experts for infectious and zoonotic disease management.
The current crisis has confirmed that for a country like India, healthcare, and life sciences are the greatest opportunities. The Government of India needs to take advantage of this moment to shift its attention to biotechnology, life sciences, and healthcare, and partner with the private sector to make India not just the ‘World Pharmacy’ but also the ‘World Laboratory.’
