Editorial 1: Making India Pandemic proof
Context:
- The rise of new pathogens has highlighted the importance of genomic surveillance. During the pandemic, India was able to create, in a short time, a formidable network of institutions that can identify new pathogens.
Introduction
- As Covid-19 abates, the question everyone is asking is: How ready is the country for the next pandemic? The virus spread exposed the weaknesses in the world’s health systems, including those of countries ranked high in the Global Health Security Index.
- Covid has also created a chance to build stronger health systems. Climate change is giving rise to new pathogens, and zoonotic diseases are spilling over from animals to humans, causing over a million deaths each year. A silent pandemic is also lurking — antibiotic resistance.
Coming up of the new institutes and approaches
- The foundation for the National Institute for One Health in Nagpur was laid. The institute will identify hotspots for endemic and emerging zoonotic diseases to contain their spread early on. Its success will depend on how well these strategies are implemented on the ground.
- The fact that 30 cities accounted for almost 80 per cent of India’s reported Covid cases shows how vulnerable urban populations are to the spread of disease. India is now augmenting surveillance in 20 cities, both large and small, with municipal corporations being mandated to identify the most vulnerable areas and provide early alerts.
- For this to be successful, private hospitals and clinics, which provide over 60 per cent of India’s health care, will need to be brought under a common platform and data placed in the public domain. The Ayushman Bharat Digital Health Mission can facilitate this.
Rising importance of Genomic Surveillance
- The rise of new pathogens has highlighted the importance of genomic surveillance. During the pandemic, India was able to create, in a short time, a formidable network of institutions that can identify new pathogens.
- This can now be complemented with wider testing of wastewater and samples from incoming ships and aircraft.
- These surveillance systems will also need to be extended to other South Asian countries, as no country is safe unless its neighbours are safe.
- India is also expanding its network of research laboratories, which primarily focused on influenza, to cover all respiratory viruses of unknown origin. Antibiotic resistance will have to be tracked and powerful awareness campaigns are needed to promote their rational use.
Partnership between Research bodies and Manufacturers
- During the pandemic, Indian manufacturers produced vaccines, test kits, therapeutics, masks and other items at very competitive prices, both for India and other countries.
- The partnerships between research bodies and manufacturers will need to be sustained and enhanced to make India a global hub in the biopharma sector. The clinical trial network set up under the National Biopharma Mission is a positive step toward improving access to affordable new vaccines and drugs in India and around the world.
Way Forward
- The World Bank has recently augmented its support to the country’s health sector to $3.5 billion. We are working with PM-ABHIM to build institutions and systems for preventing and responding to future pandemics.
- We are also helping improve the provision of primary health care by supporting the Ayushman Bharat Health and Wellness Centres under the National Health Mission at the Centre and in seven states.
- The success of India’s efforts will be critical. For it is no longer a matter of “if” there is another pandemic, but “when”.
Editorial 2: The Wheat cushion
Context:
- Wheat procurement by government agencies has touched 20.5 million tonnes (mt) in the ongoing rabi marketing season.
Introduction
- Last year’s heat wave-impacted crop, in combination with surging prices fueled by export demand and the Ukraine war, had resulted in governmental wheat purchases plunging to the lowest since 2007.
- This year’s crop has also suffered damage from unseasonal rains during the second half of March, but production doesn’t seem to have taken as much of a hit.
Rice and Wheat under various Govt schemes
- In 2022-23 (April-March), offtake of grain under various government schemes totalled 92.7 mt. The share of rice in that was 63.8 mt and wheat at 28.9 mt.
- Low wheat stocks in government godowns meant that the burden of feeding the public distribution system was largely borne by rice. Replenished wheat stocks from higher procurement should help take some load off rice now.
- That is required, more so in the event of a poor monsoon after four consecutive years of good rainfall. The government would also want sufficient stocks of both wheat and rice in a year leading up to the general elections.
Effect on Inflation
- While one has to wait for the final procurement figure — the government has targeted total wheat purchases of 34.1 mt — the trends so far should provide relief to the RBI as well.
- Cereal inflation, at 15.3 per cent year-on-year in March, has been a major worry for the central bank. That should hopefully subside somewhat when its monetary policy committee meets next in early June to decide on the course of interest rates.
Conclusion
- The next few months — particularly how the southwest monsoon season from June to September pans out — are going to matter, both for Indian agriculture and the overall supply position with regard to inflation. Thankfully, global food prices have eased and that should considerably aid the government’s supply management programme.