The emergence of vaccine-resistant Covid-19 variants has severely impacted the Indian healthcare system, which is already grappling with limited resources and infrastructure to handle the pandemic.

• The new variants, particularly the Delta variant, have caused a surge in cases leading to overcrowding in hospitals and depletion of medical supplies.
• The healthcare system has struggled to keep pace with the increasing demand for hospital beds, oxygen, and medicines.
• The situation has been compounded by the shortage of healthcare workers and insufficient testing facilities in many parts of the country, causing delays in the diagnosis and treatment of patients.

The Indian health ministry has taken several steps to tackle the Covid-19 pandemic, including ramping up vaccination efforts, increasing testing capacity, and establishing Covid-19 care centers.

• India's domestic vaccine production capacity has been scaled up, and vaccination has been opened up to all adults.
• Steps have been taken to augment medical infrastructure, including setting up temporary hospitals, oxygen plants, and deploying additional medical personnel in severely affected areas.
• The health ministry has also issued guidelines for the prevention and management of Covid-19, which have been widely disseminated and implemented across the country.

While these measures have helped in controlling the spread of the virus, the emergence of new variants highlights the need for continued investment in infrastructure, research, and development of effective therapeutics and vaccines.