Test, test, test for the virus

Mains Paper 2: Health   
Prelims level: Anti-COVID-19 drugs 
Mains level:  India’s position on testing coronavirus 

Context:

• The novel coronavirus differs from other pandemics because of its exponential speed of transmission. 

CLICK HERE FOR FULL EDITORIAL (Only for Course Members)

Coronavirus:

• The coronavirus is a novel virus because the genetic RNA has undergone mutation recently to infect humans from an animal source, thus converting a zoonotic disease to an anthroponotic one. 
• Coronavirus RNA is new to the human immunological system. 
• Therefore, there are a lot of unanswered questions with regard to immunity, recurrence, carrier state, treatment and vaccines. 
• The incubation period is 2-14 days. However, research has revealed that the virus can remain in circulation for much longer in affected individuals.

CLICK HERE FOR FULL EDITORIAL (Only for Course Members)

Economic status:

• The economic status of a country influences implementation of its policies. 
• As India is a lower-middle-income country with a healthcare expenditure that is consistently below 1.5% of the GDP, it needs to be prudent and pragmatic in its approach to withstand it in the event of community spread. 
• Therefore, the government must focus on continued surveillance, prompt diagnosis and adopt robust treatment modalities to reduce morbidity and mortality.

CLICK HERE FOR FULL EDITORIAL (Only for Course Members)

Increase in testing:

• An increase in testing will identify the actual number of cases that would require quarantine and prompt treatment. 
• The Indian Council of Medical Research has to increase random sampling and screening of the high-risk population. 
• Nationwide, the government has identified 75 government hospitals for testing and has allowed private labs with NABL accreditation to conduct real-time PCR assay of the RNA virus. 
• The National Task Force has recommended that the maximum cost for testing sample should not exceed ₹4,500. 
• The country’s per capita annual income for 2019-20 is ₹1,35,048 and the average middle-class annual income is ₹10-15 lakh. 
• Out-of-pocket expenses in healthcare is what pushes a lot of low-income Indians below the poverty line.

CLICK HERE FOR FULL EDITORIAL (Only for Course Members)

Fighting information:

• Misinformation, especially on the use of facial masks, alternative medicine, and availability of a cure, should be avoided. 
• With limited resources, India requires protection gear such as three-layered facial masks for its healthcare workers and for those in service industries.

India’s position:

• There is no vaccine to fight the virus yet. Randomised controlled trials for antiviral treatment are difficult to execute during pandemics. 
• Researchers need to make tough choices during clinical trials, while ensuring the safety of the patients. 
• Medication was elusive in the past for H1N1, HIV and many other viral illnesses but the human mind proved invincible. Anti-COVID-19 drugs may be available sooner than later.
• The true incidence of the disease is still unknown. 
• Evidence from the identified cases worldwide suaggest that 80% of the infections will be mild with people having flu-like symptoms, about 15% will be severe requiring hospitalisation due to breathlessness or pneumonia, 3-5% will require ventilatory support, and about 1% will succumb to the virus.

CLICK HERE FOR FULL EDITORIAL (Only for Course Members)

Conclusion:

• Every individual at risk, and not just those in power, should be tested on request. 
• There are authentic reports that several individuals have been denied diagnostic tests despite a contact history.
• The WHO categorised India as having local transmission. 
• If so, lessons can be learnt from South Korea which is taking 6,388 tests per million of the population compared to India’s 11.6. Every life is equally invaluable.

CLICK HERE FOR FULL EDITORIAL (Only for Course Members)

Online Coaching for UPSC PRE Exam

General Studies Pre. Cum Mains Study Materials

Prelims Questions:

Q.1) With reference to the micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), consider the following statements:

1. U.K. Sinha committee on MSMEs recommended a Rs 5,000-crore stressed asset fund for domestic MSMEs.
2. The MSME sector currently contributed 48% of the GDP growth and 71% of exports, with an annual turnover of ₹1 lakh crore this year.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
A.   1 only
B.   2 only
C.   Both
D.   None 

Answer..........................................................

CLICK HERE FOR FULL EDITORIAL (Only for Course Members)

Mains Questions:
Q.1) How do the test for coronavirus work? Comment.