As India grapples with COVID-19 and its dangerous repercussions on the health care system, the ability to reinvent and realign healthcare strategies is more critical than ever before. With limited resources in place due to the lockdown imposed, the need of the hour is for the public and private sector to come together to make healthcare robust.
Further, while COVID-19 overwhelms the entire health system, vulnerable groups with non-COVID-19 health issues face the brunt. How can we mitigate the impact on them and ensure access to healthcare for them?
In a 3-day panel discussion by The Nudge Foundation, Charcha 2020 from 14 May to 16 May - Experts discussed 'Building Resilient Health Systems' amid COVID-19.
On Saturday, 16 May, experts - Dr. Devi Shetty, Chairman & Founder of Narayana Health and Ashok Alexander, Founder Director, the Antara Foundation discussed how to prepare for the post-COVID world.
Listen to them here:
Dr Devi Shetty in a session on Friday said facilities are not an issue in the country in order to fight COVID-19, the need of the hour is, infact, "to identify skilled manpower".
"Our whole strategy now should not be about the lockdown and its impact. Let's assume that a large number of people will be infected so the strategy should be about saving lives. Our front line attack should be at the district level", he adds.
"We need to have young specialist doctors who are comfortable in intubating patients, adjusting ventilators and managing low cardiac outputs. Unfortunately, we do not have enough people with this kind of expertise at the district level. So we need to relook at our manpower requirement."
Watch his session below.
On 14 May, policymakers discussed responses to COVID-19 such as trying to build resilient systems and rethinking health financing. Watch Dr Srinath Reddy, President PHFI and Nachiket Mor, Visiting Scientist discuss the details here:
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