There is an urgent need to address gaps in Indian healthcare: Report

The over two years of Covid19 pandemic laid bare the already failing health systems of India and people continue to suffer With the country now facing recurring infections postCovid there is an urgent need to refill gaps in the healthcare systems suggests a report on FridayThe Health Systems Resilience Index HSRI report by global think tank Observer Research Foundation ORF offers insights into the state of the countrys health systems at a disaggregated subnational level and the parameters that need to be addressed in the short termThere is no better time than now to invest in health systems Today as the world sees a likely future of recurring infections state leaders will need to prioritise the building of knowledge systems and investment in human capital and critical infrastructure and to put into place robust evaluative mechanisms This will need an acrosstheboard consensus for action Dr Samir Saran President ORF wrote in the reportIndias healthcare delivery system has historically suffered from adhoc regulation poor monitoring and modest budgetary allocations The report highlighted how during the pandemic some states and Union Territories UTs succeeded more than others in streamlining the resources rapidly to fight CovidThe key was aligning their health systems with the needs of the population Saran said The report showed that in the domain of institutional support to the health sector Meghalaya did exceedingly well and Himachal Pradesh Sikkim and even small states like Tripura Goa and Mizoram did relatively well Jammu amp Kashmir leads among the UTsAlso read High levels of toxic chemical Nonylphenol found in drinking water across India ReportIn terms of managing Covidrelated health outcomes Himachal Pradesh among the large states and small states like Goa and Tripura did better than others Among UTs Lakshadweep and Andaman and Nicobar Islands showed noteworthy results even outperforming all states Tamil Nadu and Chhattisgarh among the larger states and Goa among the small states have the best records in their general health profile and among the UTs Dadra amp Nagar Haveli and Daman amp Diu are the leadersIn medical infrastructure smaller states such as Arunachal Pradesh Sikkim and Mizoram have the best populationlevel services as do larger states like Kerala and Maharashtra Among UTs Lakshadweep is the most equipped Goa among the small states and Tamil Nadu and Kerala among the large states fulfil the most number of criteria for technology infrastructure Delhi leads among the UTsThe report calls for better data infrastructures to drive policy and an aggressive push towards Universal Health Coverage to fill the yawning gaps in the countrys health systems It showed that only the states and UTs with higher percapita income levels are significantly more resilient to combat a potential new wave of the pandemic or any other health crisis of similar magnitude than the poorer regionsCalling the Covid immunisation drive a remarkable achievement the report advises the policy makers to learn from the past three waves and ramp up investments in health and develop sound strategies for expected future waves As unprecedented as the Covid19 crisis has been it will not be the last We are required to strengthen our health systems and make them harmonious equitable and sustainable It would do us well to start doing this now Saran saidThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever