Experts believe that India’s social inequalities exposed as COVID-19 pandemic shines a spotlight on them and the massive gaps in the nation’s industries on everything from job opportunities to health care. As the government of India boasts claims about equal and proper healthcare to all during the time of COVID-19, the conditions across the nation show otherwise. While India ‘s leaders have assured coronavirus testing and care for those who need it, irrespective of revenue, treatment options are as stratified and unequal as the country itself. Under India’s healthcare system, every patient in public hospitals will be able to have either free or highly subsidized care depending on their income. Yet the program was grossly underfunded, causing government hospitals to become overburdened and patients often face day-long waiting for even basic treatments.
Of over 490,000 coronavirus infections reported nationally-and the real figures assumed to be much higher-India ‘s healthcare system faces one of its biggest tests. For now, hospitals still have the potential to manage all cases of viruses. But the conditions of hospitals, nurses and doctors are bad as they face social stigma, spent tireless hours in PPEs in this hot weather and the scarcity of medical equipment, resources and proper infrastructure all over the nation to aid them. It has been also noticed that many of the coronavirus medical public facilities have poor hygiene and sanitation protocols. People are fearful that due to poor care in government facilities can worsen their condition as they cannot afford to switch to private care hospitals.
Even when healthcare for all is promised by the government, many government hospitals are incompetent to fullfill these promises due to receiving little to no aid from the government. Within India’s biggest private hospital chains, the regular prices for coronavirus care vary from around 25,000 rupees ($333) for a bed in the general ward to 72,000 rupees ($960) for a bed in the ICU with a ventilator. Some private health care providers provide home care packages for patients with mild to moderate symptoms that include twice-daily video supervision by a nurse for around $25 a day, delivery of medications, and a guaranteed ambulance, should the need occur. This makes us wonder whether healthcare for COVID-19 is only an option for people with good money .
Amongst such crises, the condition of poor patients is getting worse day by day as they have to stand in lines for hours in this summer heat for tests and treatments. India’s social inequalities exposed and the pandemic has affected the poorest in India, from the epidemic itself to the economic and social effects of a recent national lockdown. The strain on the public health system is painful and might put healthcare in India at a great risk. The COVID-19 pandemic has demonstrated how empty India’s promises of democracy and equality were.As the wealthy flaunt their new workout plans, the unprivileged scream for help — all on the same forums on social media. It is probably India’s wake-up call to make society more equal in general, and to ensure that if another pandemic happens, the poor won’t be more afraid of famine than they are of the disease itself.
