As per the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, currently there are over 83,000 active cases of Coronavirus (COVID-19) across the nation. This number may soar higher if our population does not religiously follow the recommended safety measures.
If you want to completely protect yourself from the pandemic, you should also consider purchasing a coronavirus health insurance plan—it can cover treatment costs in case you are diagnosed with the virus.
Why India is at a greater risk
With a population of over 135 crore, slowing down the spread of a contagious virus can prove to be a difficult task.
A point of major concern is that India has a low doctor-population ratio, making our healthcare system underprepared to handle the crisis. India’s doctor-to-population ratio is much lower than the level recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO). According to WHO, one doctor must be available for every 1,000 people. However, India has approximately 11,59,000 doctors, making the doctor-to-population ratio around 1:1,445.
There is even a huge shortage of protective medical gear for healthcare professionals, which increases their exposure to COVID-19. So, while buying health insurance for Coronavirus is necessary for personal financial protection, the overall infrastructure and resource planning of India’s healthcare system also has to be improved immediately.
Furthermore, many cities in India are too densely populated, rendering it almost impossible to maintain social distancing. If this prevention measure is not followed properly, controlling the spread of Coronavirus becomes even more challenging for the government. To make things worse, the underprivileged communities do not have access to clean water, and they cannot afford hand sanitizers and masks to effectively safeguard themselves.
It is worth noting that even if you follow all the proper safety measures, you are always at risk of being of exposed to Coronavirus through an unknown source. This is why it is recommended that you invest in a COVID-19 health insurance plan—if you show the relevant symptoms and are tested positive, you will not have to bear the treatment costs.
Ways to curb COVID-19 in India
Following are a few basic tips that can flatten the steep curve Coronavirus. As suggested by the Government of India, you must:
- Ensure that the elderly do not step out of the home, as they are more vulnerable to the disease
- Make it a point to adhere to all the lockdown and social distancing rules
- Use face masks and gloves while stepping out to buy groceries
- Take a bath every time you return home from buying essentials
- Improve your immunity by following the instructions provided by the Ayush Ministry
- Help the underprivileged with food and financial aid
- Be cooperative with essential service providers, including healthcare professionals and law enforcement officers like traffic police
Investing in a critical illness insurance plan is a smart idea, especially if you have an underlying condition, like heart disease or asthma, which puts you at a higher risk of getting a severely ill from COVID-19.
Always remember that, as responsible citizens, we must follow all safety rules to ensure that we are not infected by COVID-19. Like other illnesses, the spread of Coronavirus can be successfully tackled if we all remain cautious, keeping ourselves and others safe.
