Primary Care in the COVID-19 Response

COVID-19 revealed the vulnerabilities of the public health infrastructure in the United States and the need to ensure that essential services are available. The outbreak revealed the need to delineate the roles of health care and public health systems, highlighting how these sectors often share responsibility for emergency planning and preparedness. Despite the need for additional resources, many regions were unable to secure adequate supplies of key equipment, such as disinfectants, sterile instruments, and vaccines.

Primary Care is the backbone of the Indian health system, comprising a vast network of community health workers, Health Sub Centers, and Health and Wellness Centers. As the epidemic spread, Primary Care was at the center of the response. All six primary care principles have been incorporated into the strategies to fight the outbreak. Most state governments have adopted these principles, and several guidelines have been issued keeping the six primary-care principles in mind.

Advanced information technologies and platforms played a key role in the COVID-19 response. These tools enabled data sharing among health care institutions, reducing cross-infections and reducing demand for hospital services. The development of the internet-based healthcare network was able to overcome the existing time constraints, improve the quality of medical service, and address the growing needs of the country. Fortunately, it also contributed to the recovery of the Indian health care system.

As the pandemic spread, the number of people requiring Intensive Care beds increased rapidly. The rapid spread of SARS-CoV-2 led to an increase in the number of health microregions affected by the disease. This exacerbated the demand for health care, resulting in an overloaded health system. But even if a pandemic is not the end of the world, a lack of access to quality health care can exacerbate the problem and reduce the population.

In addition to primary care, Covid’s impact on the health system is also significant. The entire health care system in India is centered on primary care. Since the initial phase, the Covid response has been based on all six primary-care principles. As a result, most state governments have implemented the Covid response using the principles of primary care. In addition, multiple guidelines have been developed to improve the quality of primary care.

While primary care can meet 80% of a patient’s health needs, it also plays a vital role in reducing hospital-service demand. By preventing and identifying disease, primary care prevents complications and increases the likelihood of recovery. In addition, it reduces the risk of infection and lowers costs. With the growing demand for medical services, Covid has had an enormous impact on the Indian health system. This has shifted the burden of the disease and the cost of primary care.