India Today

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INDIA TODAY

FROM THE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

CRASH WARNING

GLASSHOUSE

Still on the Run

Can Our Courts Manage the COVID-19 Crisis?

HEALTHCARE FOR ALL

PRIORITISING HEALTHCARE

A TRAGEDY OF ERRORS • MASS CREMATIONS, THE SCRAMBLE FOR HOSPITAL BEDS, THE DESPERATE HUNT FOR MEDICAL OXYGEN, THE PUBLIC OUTCRY, THE PERSONAL TRAGEDIES—HOW COVID’S SECOND WAVE HAS EXPOSED THE ABJECT FAILURE OF THE INDIAN STATE

THE MODI GOVERNMENT’S NERVE CENTRE FOR COVID-19 MANAGEMENT • On March 29, 2020, the central government formed 11 empowered panels to handle various aspects of the battle against the Covid-19 pandemic. On September 11, these were restructured into a smaller group of six, with each given larger roles. These groups coordinate their activities with state governments through chief secretaries or other designated officials. While the empowered groups play a key role, the real issue is coordination with states and slackening of pace after the first wave receded around October and the second wave arrived in March. Now, these groups are scrambling to bolster medical infrastructure

1. WARNINGS BY EXPERTS WENT UNHEEDED • GENOME SEQUENCING WAS NOT PRIORITISED EVEN AFTER CONCERNS WERE ARTICULATED ABOUT MUTANTS CAUSING A SECOND WAVE

WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE

2. NOT AUGMENTING THE MEDICAL WORKFORCE • A DIRE SHORTAGE OF HEALTH PROFESSIONALS HAS CRIPPLED INDIA’S FIGHT AGAINST COVID. THERE IS NEED FOR RADICAL SOLUTIONS

WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE

3. THE VANISHING HOSPITAL BEDS • ACROSS STATES, HEALTH INFRASTRUCTURE CREATED DURING THE FIRST WAVE WAS DISMANTLED UNDER THE DELUSION THAT THE PANDEMIC WAS OVER

WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE

4. FAILING THE CRUCIAL TEST • AFTER EXPANDING TESTING LABS ON A WAR FOOTING IN THE FIRST WAVE, THE MOMENTUM WAS LOST EVEN BEFORE THE SECOND HIT

WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE

5. GOING OFF TRACK • WITH STATES GOING LAX ON CONTACT TRACING AND TRACKING OF POSITIVE CASES, THE VIRUS WAS LEFT TO SPREAD UNCHECKED

WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE

6. THE BOOM IN BLACK MARKET FOR KEY DRUGS • THE GOVERNMENT’S FAILURE TO BUILD UP A STOCKPILE OF SPECIAL DRUGS FOR COVID TREATMENT HAS LEFT MILLIONS OF INDIANS DESPERATE

7. GRAVE ERRORS IN OXYGEN SUPPLY • A FLAT-FOOTED GOVERNMENT FAILED TO LEARN A KEY LESSON FROM COVID 1.0—INDIA NEEDED A WAR RESERVE OF MEDICAL OXYGEN

WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE

8. THE VACCINE COMPLACENCY • INDIA’S VACCINE ROLLOUT WAS ABYSMALLY SLOW, MARRED BY OFFICIAL COMPLACENCY AND A LACK OF VISION ABOUT ITS CRITICAL ROLE IN FIGHTING RETURN WAVES

9. WANTED: A WAR ROOM THAT WORKS • THE FIGHT AGAINST COVID HAS LACKED A NATIONWIDE TECHNOLOGY SOLUTION TO ROUTE HELP TO THE NEEDY

WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE

10. THE ABSENT STATE • WHILE THE GOVERNMENT FAILED TO PERFORM ITS DUTY AND INSTEAD FOCUSED ON POLITICAL REWARDS, THE JUDICIARY AND THE ELECTION COMMISSION WERE FOUND WANTING AS WELL

WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE

FROM DIDI TO DURGA • Mamata Banerjee’s victory holds out hope not just for Bengal but for opposition forces across the country looking to...