COVID-19 has affected us in many ways. The most adverse effect of this pandemic is on the healthcare sector of our country. It has shown that Indian Healthcare is not thriving as it was believed until now. The condition of Indian healthcare is frightening especially in rural areas. During the pandemic, we saw much shocking news such as attacks on doctors, hospitals, and streets overflowing with masked patients and people openly violating the social distancing norms. The Indian healthcare industry is facing more problems than ever. These problems with the Indian Healthcare mainly include shutting down of small hospitals and nursing homes due to financial downfall, lack of PPEs, ventilators, hospital beds, medical manpower, and the daily increase in cases.
Another problem that is getting worse day by day is the lack of medical care for patients dealing with life-threatening diseases such as cancer, diabetes, aneurysms, who are the same people more prone to the virus. This is because most of the attention, resources, and treatments have been diverted to COVID-19 patients. This is creating more complications. The condition of doctors, nurses, and frontline healthcare workers, who are needed now more than ever, is worsening due to burnout, social stigma, the burden of the patients, and much more.
Liquidity is limited by the capital-intensive hospital market. In order to construct a specialty hospital, enormous capital investment is needed and the constant capital infusion is required to keep it up-to-date with the rapid pace of global technical and medical advances. Unless there is some liquidity injection into the industry, indirect and direct tax incentives, and fixed cost subsidies from the government to resolve the disruption, the expected effect of substantial operating losses and additional investments could cripple this business in the midst of this pandemic. More than ever, a robust strategy to improve the current public sector health systems is required now.
During this pandemic, as we live with precautions, it is helpful to note that normal hospital life has been going on, but at a slower pace. Kids are born, critical care, and other urgent needs are also seen. We should be aware, while being diligent and following procedures, not to let anxiety take over us. It is difficult, but important, to provide a balanced perspective.
