What is the issue?
- The second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic has brought to light some fundamental gaps in dealing with medical emergencies as the current one.
- It calls for an assessment of the roles of the Centre and States in this regard.
What should the Centre be clear about?
- Clearly, events like that the current pandemic are national crises.
- They call for concerted efforts by both, the Government of India (GoI) and state governments.
- Denials, finger-pointing, and media management will not help in rightfully dealing with these.
- It is time the GoI realises that health is a state subject.
- The number of employees in the health wing of the GoI is negligible as compared to that in any state government.
- The implication is that if anything good in health or Covid management happens, the credit must rightly go to the state government.
- The GoI must however help the states, motivate them to do better and assist them in their task.
What key role can the Centre play?