For about the last three weeks, federal and provincial governments in Pakistan are busy fighting the coronavirus by imposing smart lockdown on the coronavirus-infected areas. After the smart lockdown for about two weeks, a marked reduction in has been noticed in the fresh corona cases in the Punjab provinces and also a reasonable reduction in other provinces. However, as the majority of the people in the country are still ignoring the government’s instructions of observing the precautions of wearing the masks and observing the social distance, the new areas are hit by the pandemic.
Hence, the presence of the coronavirus and fighting this virus seems to be a continuous process, which is likely to prevail in the country for quite some time, in the near future. So, it means that to fight the virus successfully and ending it in the shortest possible time would require the people to observe the precautionary measures, while at home and at work, the affected people will have to learn how to effectively undergo the quarantine in their homes, and when they should report to the hospital. On the other hand the federal and provincial governments will have to make consist efforts to provide the hospital facilities of testing and curing the virus. Also, the provincial governments should be able to quickly pinpoint hotspots to be able to lock down the affected areas.
In view of the above, to fight the virus more effectively following suggestions are offered. Constant strengthening of the health system, quality observance of quarantine SOPs and availability of PPEs and testing facilities will have to be ensured by the government. Also, trained paramedical staff, including technical operators for ventilators should be provided in the health care facilities/quarantine centres. It would be better if the district administration and the political/religious leaders collect the Lumberdars and other rural stakeholders at the union council level and brief them about telling the common people to strictly observe the coronavirus related SOPs.
To develop consensus to observe the SOPs on Eid days and other religious events, religious leaders may be engaged at the provincial and federal levels. The consensus at the federal level will radiate effects for uniform implementation and facilitating the execution at provincial level. Amidst protracted pandemic, for the upcoming Eid days a graduated opening of domestic travel facilities with safety protocols/plans should be ensured. All district administrations should develop comprehensive plans duly incorporating the transport unions, for stringent implementation of the SOPs and observe social distancing.
Despite having the capacity for testing the coronavirus patients, non-testing tendency in the health departments of some provinces should be discouraged
Despite having the capacity for testing the coronavirus patients, non-testing tendency in the health departments of some provinces should be discouraged and the lab capacity should be optimally utilized to carry out tests of suspected patients to identify the hot spots, for clamping the lockdown in the affected localities. For imposing an effective smart lockdown in the affected areas in major cities, the use of the NRSP and Tiger force may be considered. The provinces should also liaise/coordinate with the private sector hospitals to overcome the capacity constraints of the government institutions/hospitals.
Federal and provincial governments should also ensure that the businessmen dealing with the coronavirus fighting equipment do not capitalize on the shortage of the equipment by increasing the prices. In this context, following should be ensured. The Ministry of Health should carry out a necessary valuation to ensure uniform implementation of coronavirus testing rates in private hospitals. Moreover, the availability of oxygen to the hospitals should be ensured by arranging supplies on the war footing basis and the hoarders and those charging bloated prices should be punished.
While enhancing the coronavirus testing capacity, the government should also cater for the outgoing and incoming passengers travelling via international airlines. Also, for the procurement of critical medicines, the import, registration and regulatory rules and procedures should be simplified. To cater for fighting the disease on the long term basis, proper forecast for the requirement of doctors and paramedics, medical equipment, medicines and hospital capacity should be made for ease of recruitment and procurement based on the requirement.
In view of the above discussion, to fight the virus successfully and make it ineffective in the shortest possible time, apart from ensuring the above suggested measures, the government should ensure that while the economic activity in the country is maximized to enable the people to earn their livelihood, the prices of daily utility food items, like the flour, sugar, cooking oil, pulses, chicken meat and vegetables do not further rise .
The writer is a former Consultant and Research Fellow of Islamabad Policy Research Institute (IPRI)