Open AccessCOVID-19: Challenges and its consequences for rural health care in India
Author(s) -
Anant Kumar,
Kesavan Rajasekharan Nayar,
Shaffi Fazaludeen Koya
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
public health in practice
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2666-5352
DOI - 10.1016/j.puhip.2020.100009
Subject(s) - pandemic , covid-19 , economic shortage , health care , healthcare system , rural population , rural area , economic growth , rural health , medicine , transmission (telecommunications) , population , business , environmental health , geography , disease , virology , economics , computer science , infectious disease (medical specialty) , government (linguistics) , outbreak , telecommunications , linguistics , philosophy , pathology
This commentary highlights the potential consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic for India’s rural population in India. The rural health care system is not adequate or prepared to contain COVID-19 transmission, especially in many densely populated northern Indian States because of the shortage of doctors, hospital beds, and equipment. The COVID-19 epidemic creates a special challenge due to the paucity of testing services, weak surveillance system and above all poor medical care. The impacts of this pandemic, and especially the lockdown strategy, are multi-dimensional. We argue for the need to take immediate steps to control the spread and aftereffects and to use this opportunity to strengthen and improve its primary health care system.
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