Daily Times

Coronavirus has brought the world to its knees. The Nature’s Show is going on the air with long episodes of despair, confusion and fright. COVID-19 has questioned the future of man in various spheres: health, economy, lifestyle and social status.

There are multifarious theories about the origin of COVID-19. The findings of the World Health Organisation about the transmission of coronavirus have proved inconsistent. Nobody knows where the international economy is going. The threat of plausible food crisis is being discussed. The lifestyles are changing. The world is at the initial stage of developing some potential vaccine to cure the disease. In the sequence of these uncertainties, the social animal is doing the business of life, particularly in South Asian countries.

Pakistan is no more an exception when it comes to the havoc COVID-19 is playing worldwide. Instead of saving lives of the victims in accordance with the principles of morality, some coronavirus survivors are selling their blood plasma for up to Rs. 1 million. Their customers come from the affluent class. The sacred concepts of humanity and charity have covered themselves in the veils of selfishness. This is how the people are doing the business of life. Who will stop this illegal business? I suspect this activity will get momentum in near future, inhibiting more problems.

Pakistan could immediately launch a Mobile Application and ask the eligible ones for plasma donations. It is better to be prepared before the worst comes!

The wealthy portion of Pakistan’s population is fighting coronavirus with complete preparation. They have already bought sufficient oxygen, necessary injections, immunity boosters and the related medical equipment. The doctors are treating them at their homes for huge fees. The people who afford have stocked the COVID-19 related medicines. It has given rise to the shortage of medical supplies leading to a surprising increase in prices of medicines. Again, the poor class is miserably staring at the people who are doing the business of life.

As a nation, we do not seem to accept the safety measures. We are resisting precautions. Violation of the necessary SOPs is putting many in health risks. This is how the number of COVID-19 cases is sky-rocketing in Pakistan. It looks like we are hostile enemies of ourselves. The contemporary plague has proved our incapability of responding to the health crisis. To our politicians, COVID-19 is merely an opportunity of spurring political statements and playing with the lives of the people by disturbing the coronavirus relief processes. Coronavirus has revealed that the custodians of democracy have failed in developing an acceptable heath system in Pakistan.

The laboratories are charging very high for COVID-19 diagnostic tests. Who has determined and set their prices? Whom these laboratories are accountable to? Are the reports issued by them transparent and valid? The medical laboratories are stuffing their pockets and are fully into the business of life.

The private hospitals are charging around Rs. 2 million for taking care of the COVID-19 patient. It has been reported by a few legal heirs that the hospitals are demanding huge money for handing over coronavirus infected dead bodies. This is the height of being hard at heart and sick at soul! The hospitals are doing the business of life to accumulate huge money by using the current health related qualms.

Have we lost our senses? Are we devoid of love for humanity? It is good to extricate the reasons that lead the human beings to some callous doings. Poverty, at the first place, has the power to bring man to the brink of pointlessness. A portion of the poor coronavirus survivors could take it as a business to treat their economic depression. Secondly, illiteracy poses hurdles in the way of doing good; hence, selfishness dominates.

Around 60,000 sufferers, as of today, have been completely recovered from COVID-19 in Pakistan. These people are the winners, but they could do the business of life if not managed properly. Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) of the US and the Red Cross have joined hands to motivate the survivors to donate life-saving blood plasma. The government of Pakistan could immediately launch a Mobile Application and ask the eligible ones for plasma donations. It is better to be prepared before the worst comes!

Strict actions are required to bring the prices of the medicines down. Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP), with the help of the related institutions, is supposed to take some incessant measures in this regard. Mass media could play extremely constructive role by propagating the motivational examples from across the world. The religious scholars could drive the nation to the light of humanity. The Supreme Court of Pakistan could take notice of what the private hospitals are doing. The public must wear masks and practice social distancing. We need to demonstrate the highest levels of responsibility and endurance. These collective efforts could take us out of the deep waters of COVID-19. That would mark the end of “the business of life” in Pakistan.

The writer is a researcher and a journalist