India’s Frantic Fight Against COVID-19: Rescuing a Broken Healthcare System by Adopting a “Doctor and Patient First” Approach

India’s public healthcare system is reeling under the pressure of the COVID-19 pandemic, with the country reporting over 30 million cases and 481,000 deaths by the end of 2021. The rise of the omicron variant threatens to add further strain on a chronically underfunded public health system, which a considerable proportion of the population living in poverty depend on. The pandemic has aggravated the shortage of supplies and capacity, pushing the Indian healthcare system to its breaking point. This write up calls for a major and urgent reform of the doctor and patient experience, achievable through prioritized funding to strengthen healthcare infrastructure, improving job security and satisfaction for healthcare workers, and improving the quality and safety of care delivered to patients throughout the nation. India must build a healthcare system focused on ensuring patient satisfaction and a positive patient experience by offering convenient healthcare access and high standards of care and treatment delivery.