Over one million people contracted Covid19 in India so far. The situation is becoming serious day by day, as more than 30,000, cases are getting added each day. As per the Experts, the figure would reach 2.5 million by 15th August, if the same trend continues, as corona has become rampant in rural areas. Maharashtra, Tamilnadu, Bihar, Karnataka, AP, Telangana, and Kerala, are in very bad shape with regards to Covid19. Centre, by deputing teams to these states, washed its hands off, making states responsible. It has not shown any seriousness other than using the data to claim that we are in a safe zone.
Governments around the world are rapidly expanding their health care capabilities, but in India, there is very little regulatory control over the private health care system. Some states are using a private pool of hospitals. Shutting down of hospitals is not a solution, but proper nursing protocols, genuine PPEs, ventilators, Oxygen cylinders, and dependable rapid tests are only the urgent need of the hour. Since states are unable to make use of private hospitals. The government Of India should announce health emergency and take over all the private hospitals in the country to fight COVID 19, and once the situation is eased, they could be surrendered back, with lock stock and barrel. The recent remarkable growth of the private health sector has come at a time, when public spending on health care at 0.9 percent of GDP, is among the lowest in the world. This proportion has fallen from an already low 1.3 percent of GDP under UPA in 1991 when neoliberal economic reforms began.
The government's common minimum program promises an increase in spending on health care from 0.9 percent to 3 percent of GDP in five years with health insurance schemes for poor families. In the past 2 years, although expenditure on health care has increased in absolute terms, the proportion of GDP it represents has declined. Many complaints are being lodged with the government regarding the exorbitant amount of money being charged by health care providers and causing hardships to the general public during this COVID 19 pandemic. Therefore it’s suggested that Govt Of India should pass an order under health emergency that COVID 19 should be treated at all private hospitals and Nursing Homes free of cost.