Spreading of deadly infectious disease has increased globally due to the human act. There are many pandemic situations due to infectious diseases that have already happened in the world since a long period. But this COVID- 19 outbreak has some different story. It originated in China, Wuhan and after that it affected almost every country. This novel corona or COVID – 19 outbreak already reached a supreme level till now and no one can touch it. All over the world till date 16,733,760 people have been affected due to this COVID – 19 pandemic with a mortality rate nearly 6 % [1]. India is also badly affected by COVID – 19 more than 15, 50, 000 people affected in India with a mortality rate of nearly 4% [2]. Till now there is no treatment for this disease. Some countries are in the 1st stage trial for the invention of vaccine. India is also in this race. A recent molecule Flavipiravir is accepted by DCGI for the treatment of COVID- 19 in mild and moderate cases. It can come to the market with in AUG- SEP 2020 [3].
The COVID- 19 pandemic has actually displayed the total health care system all over the world as well as India. Due to this pandemic the demand of health care activities and health care personnel has increased in a supreme level all over the world. In India specially a large amount of health care professionals as well as the health care activity is required on urgent basis. Due to lack of the healthcare professionals and facilities a large number of activities are still untouched in our country [4]. So, that patient care management system failed. In India till date a huge number of people reported death due to no treatment in hospital/ nursing home in different types of disease except COVID -19. So, the scenario became tough day by day. During the outbreak of EBOLA also a huge number of people recorded death due to other disease like tuberculosis, cancer, diabetes, cardiac problem etc. 1.6 million people has affected due to COVID – 19 which is the largest till date. But the only way to tackle any pandemic situation is a good health care system. In India COVID already displayed a fragile health care system and this situation forced India to make difficult choices on how to best meet the needs of their people. Government of India also followed the guideline advised by W.H.O that is to maintain social distancing, using sanitizer with 70 % alcohol, washing hand with soap, etc.
But the scenario is changing and nowadays Government has allowed the telemedicine practice with the help of registered medical practitioners. It is already applied in different regions of our countries. This will be beneficial for a lot of patients for a proper guideline of treatment. Most of the non – COVID cases are neglected so that this may be a good platform. There have also been frequent online training sessions for nurses, paramedic staff and primary healthcare workers for protocol to be followed for detection, isolation and communication regarding suspected infections. This technology can open a new way to reach the treatment with the telemedicine to the remote location in India. So, there is a possibility of carving out some further roles as paramedic functions that may not require a full MBBS degree. So, Pharmacist may play a major role in telemedicine now. This could be an innovative way to augment trained healthcare manpower, although practicality of such a decision will emerge with time [5].
But additionally, we need a lot of hospitals and medics also for the treatment of this like pandemics. Presently Government has allowed thousands of train coaches to be used for treatment of COVID. But this is not sufficient still. Although mobile hospitals were a target in the NDMP 2019, such an innovative approach arose out of necessity and has benefits of moving as much capacity as required to various locations and is much faster and more efficient than road transport. If retained and built upon, this flexible concept has the capability of supplementing the healthcare infrastructure substantially.
So, if we make this facility on an urgent basis, we can save lots and lots of human life. Health care system should be upgraded but it would involve huge investment in the health care system.
References:
[2] https://www.mygov.in/covid-19
[5] https://www.eurotimes.org/success-of-telemedicine-in-india/
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