Management of Covid-19 in Karnataka: Lessons for the future
- New Delhi Writers Choice; 2024;
- v, 135
Karnataka did exceedingly well in managing the Covid-19 pandemic. It was a whole of government, all of society approach. It was the first state to invoke the Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897 for dealing with the tumultuous situations thrown up by the pandemic. Karnataka set up a state-level decision-making body chaired by the Chief Minister, with other ministers, senior officials and experts that met regularly. There was a Technical Advisory Committee consisting of public health, epidemiology, virology and clinical experts. Evidence-based, decentralized decision-making, with steady monitoring and use of technology played a significant role. Communication was a big pillar. Health infrastructure was ramped up tremendously. Civil society, private sector, rural and urban local bodies, slum communities and the IT community of Bengaluru measured up to the occasion. An important part of the strategy was to integrate psycho-social counselling. The state-of-the-art Control Room set up by the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike became a model for other districts and states. Karnataka’s transparency in reporting was ranked high by Stanford University researchers. This book is a must-read for at least two reasons. One, it presents a first-hand picture of the management of the pandemic by those Covid Warriors within the government, who left no stone unturned in selfless and heroic ways, to measure up to the occasion. The book also contains valuable lessons for dealing with future pandemics.