COVID-19- A study on Health System of India, and Tamil Nadu in particular: Are we ready to Tackle the onslaught of Covid-19?

Abstract : The Corona Virus, named Covid-19, has impacted the people, the leaders, the countries world over in different degrees. The pandemic created panic and the world is abound by mistrust. The health systems of medically advanced rich countries and low infrastructure less developed and poor countries are overwhelmed by the speed transmission and mortality. The virus is new and hence it takes time to find out an effective vaccine or medicine to control this Covid-19. In this scenario, how the world, India and the state like Tamil Nadu are going to fight against he scourge. UN and WHO have taken various steps, time to time, to strengthen the Health system of countries through proposals like Universal Health Coverage and Sustainable development Goals-2030. If a country has equitable health system covering all strata of people without discrimination, the country act decisively against any new contagious disease. The Covid-19 can be winning over by unity of nations. India has made a long stride on Health System by building primary, secondary and tertiary level health infrastructures with robust Medical educational system. Huge population is a mitigating factor. Several Indian states are doing well even on International parameters, like, IMR and MMR. Tamil Nadu is one among the frontline states which are performing creditably on Health System. Still, Certain fault lines like inadequacy in SCs, PHCs and CHCs to cover enough people effectively and lack of enough medical personnel in rural and Taluk and District level hospitals are to be looked in to. The bolstered Health System would be ready to tackle not only Covid-19 but also any such eventuality in future, too.