FREE CORONA CARE FOR ALL A MUST
and that should include free testing, treatment, food and other basic facilities/costs during treatment in all hospitals and approved laboratories – public or private, and that is the minimum any government should ensure to its citizens/residents and we know that this pandemic has grown to monstrous proportions in India now. Nowadays when jingoism is at its high pitch under the fake news spread and false propaganda of the fanatic communal central government and likeminded parties and governments in states too, and one too readily hates, despises and rivals China for all and sundry reasons, why can’t we rival with China in this field too and provide a better care and treatment facility to one and all. It may be underscored that in China not only the testing is free, but any cost related to COVID-19 including treatment or cost not covered by personal insurance is borne by the government. Why China, even the small African country Rwanda provides all Corona testing and treatment free to one and all and has been especially praised by the Director-General, WHO, in his media briefing on 10 August 2020: “… Rwanda’s progress is due to a … combination of strong leadership, universal health coverage, well-supported health workers and clear public health communications. / All testing and treatment for COVID-19 is free in Rwanda, so there are no financial barriers to people getting tested.” Then, there is the brilliant example of New Zealand, which the entire world knows. Further, the approved cost of testing in private labs in India runs up to Rs. 4500/- (charged costs may be much more) but it is only Rs. 500/- in Pakistan and moderate in Bangladesh too. We have seen so many videos of people virtually crying in agony when charged with lakhs of rupees for Corona testing/treatment in private facilities. It is utter shame on all of us that even after 70 years of so-called independence we have not been able to provide ourselves with any free, universal health care system. True, there is an Ayushman Bharat scheme for free treatment to economically, etc. disadvantaged sections, but it excludes too many categories and also the middle and upper middle income groups even, who have also gone broke in these times. So, this editor specifically stresses that whoever goes to any lab/hospital, for testing and treatment of COVID-19 at least, should be treated as a ‘guest’ and accorded all respect and care in consonance with the age old dharmic cum ethical principle of “athithi devo bhava” and the private facilities should seek and governments provide reimbursements at nominal/reasonable rates. §§§
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