India Grapples With Covid-19
As of 6 May 2021, there has been over 155 million confirmed Covid-19 cases worldwide. The unprecedented pandemic has claimed over three million precious lives since its onset in 2019. The United States of America remains the country with largest number of confirmed Covid-19 cases of 33 million including close to 600,000 deaths. India, as the world’s second most populous country is trailing the United States of America with over 21 million confirmed cases and over 230,000 deaths. However, unlike the United States of America which has passed the worst of the pandemic outbreak in January 2021, India is undergoing its darkest period which has seen daily confirmed new cases surging to over 300,000 for a consecutive 14 days. Daily deaths have also been above 3,000 for two weeks in a row. In fact, India has surpassed the United States of America in terms of both daily new cases and deaths. In consultation with your economics tutor Singapore in economics tuition Singapore, discuss the various implications of Covid-19 on the Indian economy.
World’s Largest Vaccine Producer
India has the world’s largest vaccine producer. However, despite its huge production capacity, India is facing a critical shortage of Covid-19 vaccine supply. The country has failed to meet its domestic demand before committing to external orders. Serum Institute of India, which is the world’s largest vaccine producer in not only India but also the world, has vowed to further increase its monthly production capacity from the current 60 million doses to 100 million doses by July 2021, to meet the country’s escalating domestic demand. In discussion with your economics tutor Singapore in your economics tuition Singapore class, explore how the Indian government could have better prepared for the 2nd wave of Covid-19 pandemic. To find out more about the various relief measures rolled out by the Indian government in the midst of Covid-19 pandemic, you may sign up for economics tuition Singapore with a reputable economics tutor Singapore. Mr Edmund Quek is the best economics tutor Singapore with decades of experience in conducting economics tuition Singapore. Please visit his website at www.economicscafe.com.sg to read the profile of this economics tutor Singapore.
The Indian government has pledged billions of dollars in support of its vaccination programme. Currently, only 1.5 per cent of its 1.3 billion population has been vaccinated. Less than 10 per cent of its population has received at least one dose of vaccinations. To give the programme a much-needed boost, the Indian government has recently expanded its vaccination programme to include all adults. However, many states in India do not have sufficient vaccine supplies to cater to their adult population. In contrast, over 50 per cent of people in the United Kingdom and over 40 per cent in the United States have received at least one dose of vaccinations. In discussion with your economics tutor Singapore in your economics tuition Singapore class, compare India’s vaccination progress with that of China, the world’s most populous country.
Inadequate Public Health Infrastructure
The rapidly deteriorating situation in India has exposed its long existing problem of inadequate public heath infrastructure. India’s spending on public health is only one per cent of its Gross Domestic Product (GDP), a small fraction of the 16 per cent by the United States of America. Some developed countries in Europe, such as France, Germany and Switzerland allocate about 10 per cent of their GDP to public health infrastructure. With guidance from your economics tutor Singapore in your economics tuition Singapore class, explain the importance of public health infrastructure development.
The mishandling of the second wave in India has triggered a diplomatic crisis. Dr Moses Beatus Mlula, the Defence Advisor of Tanzania to India was declined of medical assistance by hospitals in New Delhi and died on 28 April 2021 after he was finally rushed to a hospital linked to the Indian Army. Following this tragic incident, some diplomats from the Middle East have left India for their own safety.
Linda Geng
Economics Tuition Singapore @ Economics Cafe
Principal Economics Tutor: Mr. Edmund Quek