The world is still learning from COVID

Source: The post The world is still learning from COVID has been created, based on the article “The pandemic — looking back, looking forward” published in “The Hindu” on 10 April 2025. The world is still learning from COVID.

UPSC Syllabus Topic: GS Paper2- Governance-Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health.

Context: In March 2025, we marked five years of the COVID-19 pandemic. Countries across the world organised events and reflected on the crisis. Many global discussions took place. But a central question remains: Have we truly learnt from the pandemic? Have we built a world that is healthier, more inclusive, and innovative, especially in the Global South and North?

For detailed information on Covid taught us five lessons for future read this article here

Fragile Public Trust

1. The pandemic revealed the fragility of public trust in healthcare systems.

2. Low confidence among people reduced the adoption of essential measures like testing and vaccines.
3. In India, underreporting of deaths in the early stages reflected this lack of trust.
4. In many countries, especially vulnerable economies, poor communication worsened the health crisis. Strong trust in institutions is essential for effective public health response.

Technology and the Digital Divide

1. There was a rapid increase in digital health technologies, such as telemedicine and AI in drug research.

2. A study using patent data from the University of Sussex showed a surge in AI-related pharmaceutical patents after the pandemic began. But many in the Global South lacked access to these tools.
3. The digital divide excluded vulnerable populations, showing that innovation alone is not enough without equal access.

Health System Weaknesses

1. COVID-19 exposed serious flaws in health systems, especially in developing countries.

2. In India, weak infrastructure and institutional gaps were evident.
3. The need for universal health insurance became clear. Oxygen supply systems were found lacking, raising concerns for future respiratory outbreaks.
4. Solutions like hybrid healthcare models—combining digital tools with physical systems—and public-private partnerships gained attention but were not sustained.
5. In decentralised systems, the role of a central public health coordinator became important to reduce coordination gaps.

Deepened Vulnerabilities

1. The pandemic intensified existing inequalities, especially for women, who faced more pressure in childcare, job losses, and mental health issues.

2. Marginalised groups struggled to access healthcare. Progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals was affected.
3. A global mental health crisis emerged. New remote work models brought challenges in productivity and well-being, with no long-term solutions found yet.

Equity and Global Access

1. COVID-19 highlighted global issues of equity and access.

2. Debates over intellectual property rights and vaccine distribution became intense.
3. Africa suffered delays due to vaccine nationalism, as rich nations prioritised their own needs.
4. The situation showed the need for stronger South-South cooperation to ensure fair access in future health emergencies.

Conclusion

Some progress has been made in healthcare, innovation, and recovery, but major challenges remain. The goal of “One World, One Health” is still out of reach. The key question now is whether the world is truly learning and acting to build a resilient, inclusive global health system for the future.

Question for practice:

Examine how the COVID-19 pandemic exposed and deepened global health inequalities between the Global North and South.