CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR INDIA: THE OTHER SIDE OF COVID-19 PANDEMIC

*Dr. Chandramani Kumar, Dr. Dewesh Kumar and Dr. Erum Yasmin

ABSTRACT

Outbreak of COVID - 19 in early December of 2019 in China led to a pandemic in 2020 despite taking measures to check the spread of disease. More than 200 countries and territories were affected with more than 5.5 million infected people all around the world. India is currently battling COVID – 19 with standard guidelines and also relying upon its indigenous system of medicine. Barring initial limitations in testing capacity, India has enhanced its testing capacity by establishing chain of laboratories across the country. Present pandemic has exposed the lacunae in existing health policy and investment in health sector in India. It has provided an opportunity for not only seriously reviewing the existing health policy but also the availability and utilization of public health experts in India. A dedicated public health cadre and strong public health policy is the need of hour. This pandemic may help people to adopt healthy lifestyle and hygiene practice among them which will contribute in reducing the other health problems too in community in long run. With strong political will, India can turn this challenge into an opportunity for a healthy India.

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