8th Edition of the Dialogue to Develop a Vision for the Environment of Delhi - 2025

SPEAKERS: Ms. K. Sujatha Rao, Former Union Health Secretary; Prof. K. Srinath Reddy, President, Public Health Foundation of India; Prof. Naresh Gupta, Former Director Professor, Maulana Azad Medical College; Dr Ajay Aggarwal, COO, Omega Hospitals; and Dr. Indranil Mukhopadhyay, Health Economist, Associate Professor, O. P. Jindal Global University

MODERATOR: Suhas Borker, Founder Member, Green Circle of Delhi

It was a catastrophic scenario when Delhi was struck by the second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic. On 20th April 2021, Delhi reported its highest single-day Covid-19 spike ever, after it added over 28,395 coronavirus cases. Delhi's healthcare system failed. Amid a surge in infections and deaths, Delhi ran out of hospital beds, oxygen and medicines. This was despite Delhi having the highest density of super-speciality hospitals, doctors, beds and specialists. Why did so many people in Delhi die without access to basic medical services?

The lessons learnt from the recent crisis call for a concerted endeavour to revamp and optimize the health eco-system of Delhi. Can Delhi develop a sustainable model of primary healthcare led Universal Health Coverage? Can Delhi strengthen its health eco-system to manage regular and emergency healthcare as well as prepare for biological disasters? Can Delhi's healthcare infrastructure meet the needs of non-Covid patients in the current and near future scenarios, in anticipation of the Covid crisis remaining for some time? Can a transparent plan of action be prepared and implemented laying down clear lines of institutional accountability?

This series is dedicated to the memory of Shri Mahesh. N. Buch, civil servant and environmentalist, who passed away on 6 June in 2015 and who had given the key-note address at the inaugural edition of the Dialogue in 2013.

(Collaboration: Green Circle of Delhi)