The outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic offered an opportunity for a critical evaluation and rethinking of our investments and management of the health sector. At the initial stage, public officers and private sector executives made the right noise about prioritising health care, enhancing investments and guaranteeing value for money in the sector. National committees involving multiple agencies were created to meet the national health emergency and for the first time, a practical understanding of health as a phenomenon beyond hospitals, health centres and the Ministries of Health emerged. National and state level budgets were reviewed purportedly, inter alia, to prioritise health investments and to cut waste in the system considering the diminished revenues of governments. The impression was created that the momentum of fundamental reforms and change was about to sweep the health sector.

Source: Punch August 23, 2020 23:14 UTC