Hyderabad (Telangana): As the number of Covid-19 cases skyrockets across the country, the shortage of hospital beds and medical equipment has become a matter of grave concern. Reports and disturbing images of patients being administered oxygen in ambulances or wheelchairs, due to scarcity of beds, are all over the media.
At the moment, beds with oxygen facilities are urgently required to fight the pandemic. Anthony Fauci, the chief medical advisor to the President of the United States, suggested that India needs to go for a nationwide lockdown, extensive vaccination and a large-scale setup of makeshift hospitals to battle the current crisis to an extent.
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He added that even though half of the infected population needed intensive care, inadequate medical facilities and untrained faculty are crippling the country’s fight with Covid-19. The oxygen scarcity, he said, was a reflection of the dire situation the country is facing. He opined that it is imperative for every nation to help India overcome this crisis.
Must move on a war footing
China’s approach during the initial stages of the Covid-19 outbreak sets an example to all the nations. With the help of the army, the country has built the largest makeshift hospital in just 10 days. Beds were made of cardboard, with an attached oxygen pipe.
Oxygen was ensured to each bed using a centralized supply. Such arrangements were made in every state. The quick response during the initial stage not only prevented deaths but also contained the virus.
Additionally, China had set up 14 makeshift hospitals to isolate and treat COVID-19 patients. After the first case was detected in Wuhan city, the government appointed 42,000 medical staff in Hubei.
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India can follow China’s lead and deploy an army to set up makeshift hospitals to avoid bed scarcity. There are many instances in India that show a clear sight of systemic failure in planning and administration.