Very strong statement by three medical professionals associations on the Indian government's mishandling of the coronavirus epidemic.

#Thread

The signatories are members of the Indian Public Health Association, the Indian Association of Preventive and Social Medicine and the Indian Association of Epidemiologists.

They include former advisors to the health ministry, current and former professors at AIIMS, BHU, PGIMER.

Significantly, as @abantika77 pointed out, among the signatories is Dr DCS Reddy, the head of the research group on epidemiology and surveillance constituted by the government’s National Task Force for Covid-19.

Another member, Dr Shashi Kant, has also signed the statement.

This is really significant.

These are experts that the government thinks are best placed to advise it on epidemiology.

Yet, it clearly came to them late.

And they are now pointing out how the government mishandled the #Covid19 crisis.

Key excerpts from the statement.

"India’s nationwide “lockdown” from March 25, 2020 till May 30, 2020 has been one of the most stringent; and yet Covid-19 cases have increased exponentially through this phase, from 606 cases on March 25 to 138,845 on May 24."

"Had the Government of India consulted epidemiologists who had better grasp of disease transmission dynamics compared to modelers, it would have perhaps been better served."

"India is paying a heavy price both in terms of humanitarian crisis and disease spread.The incoherent and often rapidly shifting strategies and policies especially at the national level are more a reflection of 'afterthought' and 'catching up' phenomenon on part of policy makers"

"Had the migrant persons been allowed to go home at the beginning of the epidemic when the disease spread was very low, the current situation could have been avoided. The returning migrants are now taking infection to each and every corner of the country..."

Read the full statement here.

The experts have made 11 recommendations suggesting the way forward.

The statement has been submitted to the prime minister. https://scroll.in/article/963384/full-text-draconian-lockdown-incoherent-strategies-led-to-india-paying-a-heavy-price-say-experts