The Pandemic has exposed the inadequacy of private healthcare and importance of spending and strengthening public health in India. In the long-term, the government will have to re-evaluate and drastically improve upon the funding in public healthcare, infrastructure.

As the primary health centers are already overwhelmed due to the public health in India crisis and face severe shortage of resources, the report highlighted that inadequate health services due lack of basic supplies and equipment, shortage of skilled work force medical and para-medical staff who are overburdened with long hour duties has further worsened the situation. The Covid-19 pandemic has exposed gaps in our system and showcased our under investment in our overall public health infrastructure. The pandemic has brought to the forefront the shortage in medical staff and infrastructure in India. As of September 2019, India had 1 medical doctor for every 1,404 people and 1.7 nurses per 1,000 people, lower than the WHO recommended 1 medical doctor and 3 nurses for 1,000 people.

Even in comparison to countries classified as the “poorest” in the world, India’s share of public expenditure on health as percentage of the GDP is far too lower than countries. Challenges for upgrading primary healthcare include insufficient resources for equipment, medicine and vaccine supplies, deficient workforce, unmanageable caseload, clean toilets, and overall health facility

Private-sector innovators are rapidly contributing new methods and tools to the COVID-19 response. Existing tools are being adapted and new tools are being created at a speed not often seen in the public health sector. By working directly with private-sector partners, PATH can identify opportunities to apply innovation and de-risk these new tools for the government health system. With the government, PATH is looking forward—beyond the COVID-19 pandemic to the long-term needs of India’s health systems. Many of our response activities will directly impact or influence the future of health in India.