Health system collapse, mainly overburdening, with the surge of COVID-19 cases and due to existing limits on financing and budget allocation. Lack of robust medical infrastructure, that is, medical supply deficit (oxygen concentrators, generators, medications and vaccines), insufficient trained on-the-ground healthcare workers and cold chain transport issues for vaccines. Bureaucracy, red-tape, corruption and censoring of news.
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The diaspora, including many influential and prominent members, advocated through social media to raise political clout and awareness for prompt action from the US government regarding vaccine and medical supply donations, sharing patents, raw materials and the know-how for generic vaccine manufacture. Collected donations to extend support for medical supplies (e.g. oxygen canisters, medications, rapid virus tests, arranging hospital beds and other equipment). Collective mutual aid such as sending money to family members in India, organizing grief support and community pantries within the diaspora to cope with the crisis. Indian-American doctors and public health experts used their platforms, and social networks, to demand US intervention to address oxygen shortages and raised finances to ship essential medical supplies to India. Indian-American physicians liaised with both countries for them to practice in India and were actively involved in tele-consultations and follow-ups during the COVID-19 surge.
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Infrastructure and policy: Develop a policy framework, governance and national decision making in order to generate political and economic clout. It will connect people in peacetime and during disasters.
Social media and technology: Advancements in social media and technology to overcome the digital divide through PPPs, and collaborations with local NGOs, governmental organizations and cross-political and multidisciplinary stakeholders within industries dealing with screening tools, testing kits, drugs, portable ventilators, vaccine equity, drones and robots.
Efficient supply chain: Ensure transparency and accountability in the collection of funds and vital life-saving supplies through mandatory outcome measurement by independent monitors, joint commissions to monitor progress and by working with ethical local partners.
Capacity building: Training the diaspora in GHD; create a common telehealth platform to standardize advice given from the Global North to their counterparts residing in areas of critical need.
Partnership with the Heads of Indian Missions: Creation of a skills database in collaboration with heads of missions/embassies; research training and dissemination through publication, seminars and conferences, which can ensure accuracy of information; enhance economic partnership, R&D, innovation and entrepreneurship.
Promoting Indian healthcare and IT industry: Promote India as a healthcare destination and help to expand the pharmaceutical and IT industries.
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