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Much has been written on the public health response to COVID-19 since its outbreak in Wuhan, China. Many of the strategies adopted by the Chinese to contain the epidemic in Wuhan have informed countries across the world. As the pandemic progresses there are many gaps in knowledge of the virus, health systems preparedness, the effectiveness of behavioural modifications at the individual and community level. The pandemic has exposed fault lines in all of the above and provides an opportunity to reimagine public health interventions in China and India. Will this crisis rebuild solidarity in health systems through investments in public health and supportive services? Given the economic crisis that both countries are facing will public investments in health increase? Is there a vision for a comprehensive and integrated health services in both countries? How will the relationship between market and state be reconfigured? Will recent policy initiatives bring back ‘publicness’ to the health systems in India and China?

 

 

Rama V. Baru is Professor at the Centre of Social Medicine and Community Health, Jawaharlal Nehru University, and an Honorary Fellow, Institute of Chinese Studies, Delhi, India. She is also an Honorary Professor at the India Studies Centre, Central China Normal University, Wuhan, China. Her major areas of research interest include commercialisation of health services, infectious diseases, comparative health systems and health inequalities.

 

Madhurima Nundy is Fellow at the Institute of Chinese Studies (ICS), Delhi, India. She completed her PhD in Public Health from the Centre of Social Medicine and Community Health, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi. Her areas of interest include health service systems, health policies, comparative health systems and inequalities in health. Her most recent publication published by Routledge (with Rama V. Baru) is titled Commercialisation of Medical Care in China: Changing Landscapes (2020). She has published in several journals, edited volumes and has been a regular contributor to policy analysis in the area of public health on China and India.