The plight of doctors in the pandemic has cast a light on a dilapidated and overburdened public health system that has for years been starved of funds and an overhaul. India spends about 1.3% of its GDP on public health, among the lowest in the world.

Bloomberg News spoke to more than a dozen front-line physicians across India, and while none reported the sort of spike in patients with respiratory ailments that would suggest Covid-19 is already running rampant, all agreed it’s just a matter of time — and that India isn’t ready.

“ Without exception, the non-life insurance sector is severely burdened and we are afraid we will have difficulty in meeting certain regulatory requirement,” said M N Sarma, secreatry general , GI Council, in its letter to the IRDAI adding that the IRDAI may relax the minimum solvency requirement of 1.5 times for the time being on the same lines as the regulator had relaxed at the time of dismantling motor third party pool.

While asking insurers to devise appropriate insurance products that would provide protection from risks arising out of Covd-19, the IRDAI has assured  that it would to process such product approval applications on a fast track mode.

Claims arising on account of Covid-19 should be processed expeditiously. Insurers are encouraged to adopt simplified / expedited claim procedures for such cases. In addition, other claims should also be processed within the prescribed period by making special efforts, said IRDAI.