Key Takeaways
Prime Minister calls for WHO reform in Second Global Covid Summit . The Prime Minister also called for the World Trade Organization to be more “flexible” on the issue of patent waivers, where a joint India-South Africa proposal made in 2020 has not yet been adopted. India also protested the long delay in obtaining WHO approval for the Indian Made Covexin developed by Bharat Biotech, which was finally given in November 2021.
About Second Global Covid Summit
- Hosted by – United States of America
- Theme – Preventing Pandemic Fatigue and Prioritizing Preparedness’
- Aim – The summit intends to galvanize the new action to address the continued challenges of covid pandemic that triggered in 2019 and build stronger global health security.
- Other Participants
- Senegal as Chair of African Union, Heads of State/Government of Belize in its capacity as Chair of CARICOM, Indonesia as President of G20, and Germany as President of G7.
- The Director-General of the World Health Organization, Secretary-General of the United Nations, and other dignitaries will also participate in the event.
- Significance of Indian Participation
- India has been a vital player in the ongoing worldwide effort to combat the pandemic by providing safe and affordable vaccinations and medications, as well as developing low-cost indigenous testing and treatment technologies and boosting health-care worker capacity.
- India has also been active in multilateral fora with the goal of strengthening and reforming the global health security architecture, with the World Health Organization at its core.
Issues faced by Indan Health Sector Due to Pandemic
- Over burden on health care workers – Due to rising cases during the Covid pandemic led to increased workload on health workers like doctors and nurses by providing dobble time duties, their physical and mental condition also affecting.
- Health budget – Due to the increase of pandemic cases the Union Government is forced to spend more money in the health sector .As per Budget data shows that India’s public health expenditure has increased from 0.9% of GDP in 2015-16 to 1.1% of GDP in 2020-21. Rs 35,000 crore has been allocated for COVID-19 vaccine under the Ministry of Finance.
- Infrastructure constraints – In the areas of health infrastructure the covid – 19 witnessed the shortage of facilities like beds , oxygen supply.
- Upcoming of fake doctors – In the scenario of pandemic subject to spread of many fake forms of treatments and unauthorised doctors that create threat to human life.
- Shortage of medicines – The supply chain system related to the medical field is affected as the interior link of medical supply exposes their weakness .For example , shortage of medical supply to tribal areas.
- Rise of economic burden on health sectors – The economic allocation of families to the health sector is disrupted.
Pic Courtesy : Economic Times
Content Source : The Hindu