“Strengthening primary healthcare is the first line of defence against future pandemics”. Comment. Why is India still underperforming in this area?
Kartavya Desk Staff
Topic: Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health.
Topic: Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health.
Q4. “Strengthening primary healthcare is the first line of defence against future pandemics”. Comment. Why is India still underperforming in this area? (10 M)
Difficulty Level: Medium
Reference: TH
Why the question The resurgence of COVID-19 subvariants and India’s reaffirmation at World Health Assembly 78 have reignited focus on strengthening grassroots health infrastructure for pandemic preparedness. Key Demand of the question The question asks for a comment on why primary healthcare is critical in preventing and managing pandemics and seeks reasons for India’s continued underperformance in this area despite multiple reforms. Structure of the Answer: Introduction Highlight how pandemics like COVID-19 exposed systemic gaps and reaffirmed the foundational role of primary healthcare. Body Explain how strong PHCs enable early detection, community-level containment, and service continuity during pandemics Discuss key reasons for India’s underperformance: low public spending, HR and infrastructure gaps, weak urban coverage, and data silos Conclusion Suggest that India needs a PHC-led model with legal backing, fiscal devolution, and integrated tech systems for future pandemic resilience.
Why the question The resurgence of COVID-19 subvariants and India’s reaffirmation at World Health Assembly 78 have reignited focus on strengthening grassroots health infrastructure for pandemic preparedness.
Key Demand of the question The question asks for a comment on why primary healthcare is critical in preventing and managing pandemics and seeks reasons for India’s continued underperformance in this area despite multiple reforms.
Structure of the Answer:
Introduction Highlight how pandemics like COVID-19 exposed systemic gaps and reaffirmed the foundational role of primary healthcare.
• Explain how strong PHCs enable early detection, community-level containment, and service continuity during pandemics
• Discuss key reasons for India’s underperformance: low public spending, HR and infrastructure gaps, weak urban coverage, and data silos
Conclusion Suggest that India needs a PHC-led model with legal backing, fiscal devolution, and integrated tech systems for future pandemic resilience.