As the Covid crisis gets deeper in the country and shows enough signs that slipping into a quagmire-like situation is imminent, it’s a good sign that the voices calling for fast and appropriate measures are growing in chorus. The latest one which is more an honest review than a reprimand has come from The Lancet, the renowned international medical journal. If this was not enough, the Indian Medical Association (IMA) has severely criticized the way of handling the Covid crisis by the Union Health Ministry. In both cases, concerns raised are genuine and better be paid due heed as they have not come from political bodies that might allow rooms for doubt about the ‘objective’, rather they have come from well-informed sections of medical academia and a doctors’ body- both currently toiling hard to frame solutions for tackling the pandemic in their respective ways.
A national debate is now going on as to which one has been more severe- the one coming from The Lancet or the IMA’s. In its observation-cum-advice that minced no words, The Lancet editorial has asked the ruling Central government to admit its mistakes, provide responsible leadership and implement a science-based response to steer India out of its Covid-19 crisis. India’s vaccination rollout which is showing clear signs of heading towards failure has been termed as “botched campaign” and the planning process thereto as “inexcusable.” While most of the important players of the mainstream national press have maintained silence over the way Covid misfortunes are unfolding, the journal, keeping in tune with its culture of objectivity has stated: “It seems the Indian government is more occupied in removing criticism on Twitter than trying to control the pandemic.” The other vital points the journal has correctly pointed out are- despite repeated caveats, mega religious congregations and political rallies were allowed and premature declaration of victory over the pandemic also invited complacency leading to insufficient preparation. Another telling observation is about the realities of the progress of vaccination, which due to a late start and slow implementation thereafter has so far covered just less than 2% of the population. The IMA too, breaking its silence has pointed out how 756 doctors have died in the first wave and over 146 in the second one. In its sharp-worded press release titled ‘IMA demands Health Ministry to wake up from slumber and responds to mitigate the growing challenges in Covid Pandemic’, the country’s largest doctors’ body representing over 350,000 medical practitioners has questioned the lack of transparency in reporting Covid deaths and the issues of manpower and drug shortage and oxygen crisis among others.
These are stark realities. Hope the government views these as wake-up calls rather than criticisms. 

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Kenter Joya Riba

(Managing Editor)
      She is a graduate in Science with post graduation in Sociology from University of Pune. She has been in the media industry for nearly a decade. Before turning to print business, she has been associated with radio and television.
Email: kenterjoyaz@easternsentinel.in / editoreasternsentinel@gmail.com
Phone: 0360-2212313

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