New hopes should end Nepal’s Covid-19 vaccine crisis

Inequality and injustice in the health system of Nepal have not been an alarming aspect of our lives yet. However, one would get to witness such a huge disparity during a global epidemic. In April, Nepal had started facing various shortages and challenges with respect to healthcare, such as the scarcity of ICU beds , ventilators and oxygen ., as well as the spreading of misinformation . Additionally, the economic deterioration not only in terms of GDP but also basic living standards and other human development Indicators have severely depreciated because of the country’s immense dependence on remittances and tourism.

Before the epidemic, 25% of the population was living in poverty and was on the verge of becoming much poorer. Relief packages, expanded contact tracing and increased testing were among the government’s responses, although testing remained a difficulty owing to a lack of infrastructure and reliance on imports of diagnostic instruments. Due to this reason, youth activists organised demonstrations throughout the country demanding better government response and management.