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The Health System – From Village Clinics To Pharma Cos – Needs To Be Reexamined Before The Next Big Health Crisis Hits, Say Experts In A TOI Panel Discussion

The coronavirus pandemic has exposed many weaknesses in India’s healthcare system. But it has also presented an opportunity to change the healthcare landscape.

In a panel discussion that was part of TOI’s ‘A Shot of Hope’ campaign, experts discussed how the public and private sectors can work together to modernise healthcare while ensuring it remains accessible.

Moderated by Dr Sanjeev Bagai, a senior consultant paediatrician, neonatologist and nephrologist, the panel features Niti Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant, Manipal Global chairman Mohandas Pai, Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital CEO Dr Santosh Shetty, and health and bioethics researcher Dr Anant Bhan.

As the pandemic continues to infect Indians and burden limited healthcare resources, it’s important to start preparing now for the next crisis, the experts said.

“It’s very important to realise that this is not just a pandemic. This is going to become endemic. Therefore, India needs to build up its own manufacturing capacity for vaccines,” Kant said.

Vaccines alone will not prevent a third Covid-19 wave though. A large, well-trained healthcare workforce is critical, the experts said.