When India’s underfunded and fragmented healthcare system failed its informal workers during COVID-19, SEWA’s decades of community investment proved that member-centered care saves lives.
Poor infrastructure, lack of accountability, and a fragmented healthcare system with little oversight resulted in gross mismanagement.
The differential access to care in India across class and caste divides could not be obliterated by the Herculean mobilization of oxygen cylinders and the rushed building of new hospitals and intensive care units. Pandemic-related excess mortality rates in India were among the highest in the world, but remain heavily contested by the government to date.
SEWA’s decades-long investments in their communities allowed them to mount a multi-pronged response to protect their members. Their guiding talisman “What do our members need? How will this benefit our members?” ought to be the lodestar that guides health systems everywhere.
2020-2022
Essential research highlighting the importance of accurate data and responsible healthcare practices during public health emergencies.
A critical examination of mortality ascertainment during the COVID-19 pandemic in India, emphasizing how accurate death counting after public health emergencies generates vital knowledge for future preparedness. The authors argue for documenting both direct and indirect deaths to understand the full impact of disasters.
Thirty leading doctors issue a collective appeal against the inappropriate use of medications and diagnostic procedures during the pandemic, advocating for evidence-based practices that prioritize patient safety and responsible resource allocation.
This visual represents the proportional distribution of SEWA health services accessed by households in India during the COVID-19 pandemic. The data reveals both the reach of community-based healthcare initiatives and the critical gaps that remain.
Proportional Distribution of Health Services Access
Visual representation of 1,000 surveyed households and their access to SEWA health services.