Analysing Boons & Banes of COVID 19 Pandemic: A Perspective from Healthcare Services & Policy Standpoint

Abstract

Background: The myriad effects of COVID 19 pandemic on health and beyond are getting being recognized with the passing time. Aims & Objective: We attempted to compile a general assessment of the various positive and negative impacts of COVID 19 on health and healthcare services, drawing on global and Indian experiences, as well as incorporating a contemporary viewpoint of India's health policy. Methodology: A comprehensive search through PubMed, Google Scholar, news articles, and official documents was conducted to gather evidence on pandemic's impacts (March 2020 - April 2022). Policy capacity framework and health policy studies were analysed without time constraints. Results: The COVID-19 pandemic has heightened the demand for emergency services, affecting the availability of healthcare resources for both communicable and non-communicable disorders. Initially, maternal and child health services experienced a decline, but later rebounded. Telemedicine and community-based care emerged as valuable assets during the pandemic. From a health policy perspective, the crisis prompted a shift from a curative to a prevention-oriented approach. Conclusion: Strengthening and refining rules and regulations governing the implementation of public-private partnerships (PPPs) in health, as well as systematic investment in preventive programmes such as WASH and nutrition were identified as possible areas of health reforms.