scholarly journals COVID-19 and the Challenges in World’s Largest Vaccination Drive in India

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Archana Yadav
Keyword(s):  
Healthcare System ◽  
Indian Government ◽  
State Of Emergency ◽  
Medical Supplies ◽  
Hospital Beds ◽  
Second Wave ◽  
Global Population ◽  
Populous Country

COVID-19’s second wave has placed India into a state of emergency. Since the beginning of April 2021, the country has seen an extraordinary influx of corona positive cases. Due to COVID-19, our country is in the midst of the world’s worst crisis. Many reports and articles about the lack of hospital beds, oxygen cylinders, ICU beds, ventilators, and other medical supplies were published (both print and electronic) in this second wave, exposing the flaws in our country’s healthcare system. On January 16, 2021, the Indian government launched the world’s largest vaccination effort, but we still have a long way to go in vaccinating our 1.4 billion people. India, after China, is the world’s second-most populous country, accounting for approximately 17.5 percent of the global population. This post aims to emphasize the issues that our country is currently facing, as well as possible solutions to combat this deadly illness.

scholarly journals Kumbh Mela Religious Gathering as a Massive Superspreading Event: Potential Culprit for the Exponential Surge of COVID-19 Cases in India

2021 ◽  
Vol 105 (4) ◽  
pp. 868-871
Author(s):  
Ian Christopher N. Rocha ◽  
Mary Grace A. Pelayo ◽  
Sudhan Rackimuthu
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ◽  
Preventive Measures ◽  
Health Concerns ◽  
Medical Supplies ◽  
The World ◽  
Second Wave ◽  
Affected Country ◽  
Manpower Shortage ◽  
Populous Country

ABSTRACT. The Kumbh Mela is a significant religious gathering of millions of Hindu devotees in India. It is celebrated on certain auspicious days in the Hindu calendar and attracts millions of pilgrims across the country. Despite the religious intention of millions of Hindu devotees, it raised public health concerns as it became a massive superspreading event for COVID-19. Being the second most populous country, India became the second most affected country during the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition to the arrival of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) variants and the presence of the double mutated variant, which was first identified in India, the Kumbh Mela probably aggravated the country’s COVID-19 situation which resulted in an uncontrollable second wave. Several cases of COVID-19 across India had been contact-traced to returnees from the event who acted as a nidus to help spread the infection. As a consequence, India’s healthcare system was severely challenged as a result of the overwhelming hospitalizations and increasing fatalities resulting in an acute manpower shortage in healthcare along with the depletion of drugs and medical supplies despite being one of the largest pharmaceutical hubs globally. Leaders and governments around the world should learn from India’s experience and thereby take preventive measures to manage potential superspreading events to curb the spike of COVID-19 cases.

scholarly journals Assessing Interventions against Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Osaka, Japan: A Modeling Study

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (6) ◽  
pp. 1256
Author(s):  
Ko Nakajo ◽  
Hiroshi Nishiura
Keyword(s):  
Model Comparison ◽  
Reproduction Number ◽  
State Of Emergency ◽  
Illness Onset ◽  
Epidemic Dynamics ◽  
Osaka Prefecture ◽  
Time Of Infection ◽  
Single Intervention ◽  
Second Wave ◽  
Combined Interventions

Estimation of the effective reproduction number, R(t), of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in real-time is a continuing challenge. R(t) reflects the epidemic dynamics based on readily available illness onset data, and is useful for the planning and implementation of public health and social measures. In the present study, we proposed a method for computing the R(t) of COVID-19, and applied this method to the epidemic in Osaka prefecture from February to September 2020. We estimated R(t) as a function of the time of infection using the date of illness onset. The epidemic in Osaka came under control around 2 April during the first wave, and 26 July during the second wave. R(t) did not decline drastically following any single intervention. However, when multiple interventions were combined, the relative reductions in R(t) during the first and second waves were 70% and 51%, respectively. Although the second wave was brought under control without declaring a state of emergency, our model comparison indicated that relying on a single intervention would not be sufficient to reduce R(t) < 1. The outcome of the COVID-19 pandemic continues to rely on political leadership to swiftly design and implement combined interventions capable of broadly and appropriately reducing contacts.

ESTABLISHMENT OF DEDICATED COVID HEALTH CENTRE: CHALLENGES

2021 ◽  
pp. 63-63
Author(s):  
Roohani Mahajan ◽  
Vishal Vashist
Keyword(s):  
Healthcare System ◽  
Health Centre ◽  
Health Facilities ◽  
The World ◽  
Second Wave

From the rst case of corona infection in January 2020 to declining phase of second wave, more than 30 million were infected and 30 thousand died in India. This virus exploited every weakness in best of healthcare system around the world. Unfortunately, India's heath system isn't one of its strength and the second wave of this virus tested this. In order to provide better health facilities to COVID patients, healthcare centres of different capabilities were started. Establishing and operating these centres in constrained times of this pandemic was challenging and laborious.

scholarly journals The resurgence of black fungus in the context of Covid -19 second wave epidemic in India

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 173-183
Author(s):  
Asv Prasad
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Alternative Explanation ◽  
Financial Burden ◽  
Acidic Ph ◽  
Related Factors ◽  
Fungus Infection ◽  
Clinical Presentations ◽  
Hospital Beds ◽  
In The Beginning ◽  
Second Wave

There is a sudden surge of the cases of the black fungus infection ((mucormycosis / Zygomycosis), at a time when India is reeling under a catastrophe created by the second wave of Covid -19. it is like a 'medical tsunami, ' that ravaged the health care system and the administration alike, both being caught unaware. In the beginning, there is an acute shortage of hospital beds earmarked for this infection, and the lifesaving drug, the liposomal Amphotersin B, coupled with the appalling morbidity, mortality, not to speak of the financial burden and the resource crunch, that is inflicted by it.This article briefly reviews the black fungus infection in India, in the pre and post Covid -19 eras. The risk factors for the black fungus, both Covid associated (CAR) as well as non-Covid -19 associated, are discussed. The host as well as pathogen related factors, in the pathogenesis of the black fungus infection, are explored. An alternative explanation to diabetic ketoacidosis, (DKA) in providing the acidic pH required by the fungus, is hypothesized, as the occurrence of the infection, in the absence of DKA, remained inexplicable. It may be noted that the acidic pH is responsible for making available, the free iron from the host ‘s serum, that is needed for the sustenance, grouth and multiplication of the fungus, as well as causing phagocytic dysfunction in the host. The different clinical presentations of mucormycosis, their salient clinical features and the management are outlined in the present article.

scholarly journals Impact of COVID-19 Second Wave on Healthcare Networks in the United States

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emad M. Hassan ◽  
Hussam Mahmoud
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Healthcare System ◽  
The United States ◽  
Healthcare Systems ◽  
Mitigation Strategies ◽  
County Level ◽  
Protective Measures ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Second Wave ◽  
The U.S

The risk of overwhelming healthcare systems from a second wave of COVID-19 is yet to be quantified. Here, we investigate the impact of different reopening scenarios of states around the U.S. on COVID-19 hospitalized cases and the risk of overwhelming the healthcare system while considering resources at the county level. We show that the second wave might involve an unprecedented impact on the healthcare system if an increasing number of the population becomes susceptible and/or if the various protective measures are discontinued. Furthermore, we explore the ability of different mitigation strategies in providing considerable relief to the healthcare system. The results can aid healthcare planners, policymakers, and state officials in making decisions on additional resources required and on when to return to normalcy.

Study of Medical Demand-Supply Balance for the Nankai Trough Earthquake

2020 ◽  
Vol 35 (2) ◽  
pp. 160-164
Author(s):  
Yosuke Takada ◽  
Yasuhiro Otomo
Keyword(s):  
Intensive Care ◽  
Nankai Trough ◽  
Seismic Intensity ◽  
Tsunami Inundation ◽  
Inundation Area ◽  
Medical Supplies ◽  
Catastrophic Earthquake ◽  
Hospital Beds ◽  
High Care ◽  
Official Data

AbstractIntroduction:The Nankai Trough, which marks the boundary between the Eurasian and Philippine Sea plates, is forecasted to create a catastrophic earthquake and tsunami within 30 years. The Japanese government believes that the number of casualties would be huge. However, the exact number of severely injured (SI) people who would need emergency and intensive care has not been identified.Objective:This study, therefore, aimed to clarify the gap between medical supplies and forecasted demand.Methods:The official data estimating the number of injured people were collected, together with the number of intensive care unit (ICU) and high care unit (HCU) beds from each prefecture throughout Japan. The number of SI cases was recalculated based on official data. The number of hospital beds was then compared with the number of SI people.Results:The total number of hospitals in Japan is 8,493 with 893,970 beds, including 6,556 ICU and 5,248 HCU beds. When the Nankai Trough earthquake occurs, 187 of the 723 disaster base hospitals (DBHs) would be located in the areas with a seismic intensity of an upper six on the Japanese Seismic Intensity Scale (JSIS) of seven, and 79 DBHs would be located in the tsunami inundation area. The estimated total number of injured people would be 661,604, including 26,857 severe, 290,065 moderate, and 344,682 minor cases.Conclusion:Even if all ICU and HCU beds were available for severe patients, an additional 15,053 beds would be needed. If 80% of beds were used in non-disaster times, the available ICU and HCU beds would be only 2,361. The Cabinet Office of Japan (Chiyoda City, Tokyo, Japan) assumes that 60% of hospital beds would be unavailable in an area with an upper six on the JSIS. The number of ICU and HCU beds that would be usable during a disaster would thus further decrease. The beds needed for severe patients, therefore, would be significantly lacking when the Nankai Trough earthquake occurs. It would be necessary to start the treatment of those severe patients who are “more likely to be saved.”

Framework of Indian Healthcare System and its Challenges

2017 ◽  
pp. 247-271 ◽  
Author(s):  
Prashant Mehta
Keyword(s):  
Healthcare System ◽  
Healthcare Delivery ◽  
Policy Framework ◽  
Public Healthcare ◽  
System State ◽  
Service Delivery System ◽  
Law And Policy ◽  
Healthcare Reforms ◽  
Lifestyle Diseases ◽  
Populous Country

India, one of the oldest civilizations and second most populous country is ethnically, linguistically, geographically, religious, and demographically diverse is poorly ranked due to complex public healthcare system, which suffers from insufficient funding, poor management. Poor health intertwined with poverty, affordability, accessibility, burden of infectious and non-communicable affecting lives of most Indians. Healthcare ecosystems are complex and still evolving, investments in service delivery system, infrastructure, and technology, are still being experimented and explored. India's booming population; increasing purchasing power; rising awareness of personal health and hygiene; and significant growth in infectious, chronic degenerative, and lifestyle diseases are driving the growing market. In this chapter we will explore accessible and affordable healthcare system, state of public healthcare, healthcare reforms, governance (Constitutional Provisions, Law, and Policy framework) in healthcare delivery, and Opportunity offered by market drivers.

Necessary Changes in Healthcare of German-Speaking Countries

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-23
Author(s):  
Stephanie Krebs ◽  
Anna Larina Lietz ◽  
Martina Hasseler
Keyword(s):  
Change Management ◽  
Healthcare System ◽  
Healthcare Workers ◽  
Healthcare Sector ◽  
German Healthcare System ◽  
German Speaking ◽  
The One ◽  
Second Wave ◽  
Seriously Ill

The COVID-19 pandemic has suddenly gained urgency in Germany for implementation of new structures in healthcare sector to take care of seriously ill COVID-19 patients. The shortage of skilled healthcare workers, which has already been discussed before the pandemic situation, has become more tangible than ever. Society relies on a properly working healthcare system, especially in a pandemic like the one we now witness. After the comparatively mild course of the first COVID-19 wave in Germany, the interest in long overdue changes decreased. The second wave of the pandemic occurred in Germany as well. Also, in the meantime of the first and the second wave, numerous findings were collected and presented, where changes could have an effect. To motivate going forward, the text describes John P. Kotter's model of change management, eight steps to describe necessary changes in organizations and leadership in the German healthcare system.

scholarly journals Hospital Caseload Demand in the Presence of Interventions during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Modeling Study

2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (10) ◽  
pp. 3065
Author(s):  
Katsuma Hayashi ◽  
Taishi Kayano ◽  
Sumire Sorano ◽  
Hiroshi Nishiura
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Young Adults ◽  
Scenario Analysis ◽  
Exponential Growth ◽  
Hospital Admissions ◽  
Age Group ◽  
Hospital Beds ◽  
Second Wave ◽  
Specific Number ◽  
Simplistic Model

A surge in hospital admissions was observed in Japan in late March 2020, and the incidence of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) temporarily reduced from March to May as a result of the closure of host and hostess clubs, shortening the opening hours of bars and restaurants, and requesting a voluntary reduction of contact outside the household. To prepare for the second wave, it is vital to anticipate caseload demand, and thus, the number of required hospital beds for admitted cases and plan interventions through scenario analysis. In the present study, we analyzed the first wave data by age group so that the age-specific number of hospital admissions could be projected for the second wave. Because the age-specific patterns of the epidemic were different between urban and other areas, we analyzed datasets from two distinct cities: Osaka, where the cases were dominated by young adults, and Hokkaido, where the older adults accounted for the majority of hospitalized cases. By estimating the exponential growth rates of cases by age group and assuming probable reductions in those rates under interventions, we obtained projected epidemic curves of cases in addition to hospital admissions. We demonstrated that the longer our interventions were delayed, the higher the peak of hospital admissions. Although the approach relies on a simplistic model, the proposed framework can guide local government to secure the essential number of hospital beds for COVID-19 cases and formulate action plans.

scholarly journals Post-Traumatic Stress and Coping Strategies of South African Nurses during the Second Wave of the COVID-19 Pandemic

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (15) ◽  
pp. 7919
Author(s):  
Michelle C. Engelbrecht ◽  
J. Christo Heunis ◽  
N. Gladys Kigozi
Keyword(s):  
Coping Strategies ◽  
South African ◽  
Healthcare System ◽  
Traumatic Stress ◽  
Stress And Coping ◽  
Post Traumatic Stress ◽  
Unequal Distribution ◽  
Post Traumatic ◽  
And Coping ◽  
Second Wave

Prior to the 2019 novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, the South African healthcare system was already under severe strain due to amongst others, a lack of human resources, poor governance and management, and an unequal distribution of resources among provinces and between the public and private healthcare sectors. At the center of these challenges are nurses, the backbone of the healthcare system, and the first point of call for most patients in the country. This research investigated post-traumatic stress and coping strategies of nurses during the second wave of COVID-19 in the country. A structured self-administered questionnaire captured the biographic characteristics, perceived risk factors for COVID-19, and views on infection control of 286 nurses Data were subjected to descriptive and binomial logistic regression analyses. More than four in every 10 nurses screened positive for higher levels of post-traumatic disorder (PTSD). Self-reported risk for contracting COVID-19 mainly centered on being a health worker and patients’ non-adherence to infection prevention guidelines. Unpreparedness to manage COVID-19 patients, poorer health, and avoidant coping were associated with PTSD. Nurses voiced a need for emotional support and empathy from managers. Emotional, psychological, and debriefing intervention sessions that focus on positive coping strategies to actively address stress are recommended.

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