Covid-19 Impact: Huge Decline in People Accessing Health Services
Published on: 27 December 2020, 05:00 am
While Covid-19 affected all areas of life, it was access to healthcare where it had the maximum effect. So inpatient admissions, outpatient care or operations saw declines of up to 40%. Declines were also seen in deliveries, antenatal care and immunisation of children. States with a large private health sector also suffered as charges were increased substantially so that profits remained unaffected. So the message is clear–give adequate budgetary allocations for the health sector of at least 2.5% of the GDP. Is anyone listening, asks RAVI DUGGAL.
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The impact of Covid-19 in our lives is wide-ranging–loss of livelihoods and incomes, forced migration, increased unemployment, disruption of the education system, reduced access to routine healthcare services, interrupted work and home environments and restrictions on travel, meetings, leisure activities and visits to friends and relatives.
There has been a transformation in our life spaces, social interface, cultural happenstances, economic exchanges and political engagements. We are now mostly confined within the four walls of our homes. We buy food and other necessities through online grocers and retailers instead of street corner vendors and the local baniya. We don't go to cinemas and theatre as we watch films, drama and other entertainment programmes via OTT platforms. We are unable to participate in street protests and demonstrations and do so via social media. And of course, we have stopped face to face interactions with colleagues, friends and relatives and meet them via Zoom and video calls. Life has come full circle.
Drastic Effect on Healthcare
While we struggle to cope with all these changes, our access to healthcare, which is sometimes also a matter of life and death and agony and pain, has been drastically affected. Tuberculosis patients are not getting their medicines on time, cancer patients are unable to travel for chemotherapy or radiation, patients suffering from heart attacks and strokes can't get timely access to hospitals and those experiencing mental breakdowns and involved in accidents can't get the needed care. These are all life-threatening situations and with some luck, they may find access via the emergency care route. However, routine ailments have seen drastic declines in access and use.
“Inpatient admissions (excluding deliveries) witnessed a fall of as much as 45%. In the case of outpatient care too at the national level, the decline in access was over 40%, with Maharashtra doing a little better.