Six lessons from India’s Covid-19 response
StepOne worked inside the Covid-19 response in 21 states and union territories. Here is what we learned — and why it shapes how we prepare for the next health emergency.
1. Local, fast response is the key to scale
Most governments had no plan for a pandemic, yet evolved a response remarkably quickly — telemedicine guidelines debated for a decade were issued in weeks. The best-coordinated outcomes came from plans designed at state level and executed, with room for local customisation, at district, block and ward level. Frontline teams move fast when direction is clear; when it isn’t, the response is delayed or weak.
2. The right model of government collaboration is a must
Standalone helplines struggled to scale: credibility and awareness take time, and meeting expectations consistently is hard. Many commercial pilots with governments didn’t renew because of tendering timelines and cost. Working non-commercially, alongside government as an augmentation partner, proved both effective and scalable.
3. Technology is paramount to impact
StepOne scaled because a robust technology framework let anyone contribute from anywhere after a short training. India made strong national technology investments during the pandemic, but frontline use was held back by skill gaps, missing checks and balances, scale-up challenges and limited capacity for large-scale data operations.
4. Getting the right protocols out on time saves lives
Clinical guidelines arrived late, didn’t always reach every provider, and were not always followed — many doctors were still treating patients under an old protocol months after it changed. Clear clinical decision trees and a credible system for training providers during emergencies would prevent avoidable illness and deaths.
5. Communication is a key weapon
Governments used social media well to share information, but rarely to engage citizens. Misinformation spread fast in bite-sized form while official sources focused on completeness. A single, credible, citizen-friendly source of medical information is essential for the next emergency.
6. Shortages from hoarding and profiteering are preventable
Panic buying and hoarding affected everything from medicines to oxygen equipment and hospital beds. Systems that bring transparency, accountability and efficiency to critical resources — such as a virtual inventory of oxygen equipment — must be part of any future response design.
We are underprepared for the next pandemic
If another pandemic hit us — which many experts consider likely — we would see similar or greater economic, social and human losses. Three reasons:
Focus has moved on
Most organisations that fought Covid-19 no longer work on future pandemics. Mobilising them again would take time.
Infrastructure is gone
Helplines, Covid Care Centres and ambulance networks were temporary. Most have been dismantled.
Know-how is scattered
Leaders and key personnel have returned to their departments, taking their experience with them.
Most of these gaps are systemic: closing them needs a multidisciplinary, multi-department effort. That is what StepOne’s 5P approach is designed to do.
Help close the preparedness gap
Work with us on always-on helplines, preparedness drills and response systems that are ready before the next emergency.