Vol. 2, Issue 2, Part A (2020)

This paper critically explores the dichotomy between public and private health care systems in Delhi during the initial wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. Using publicly available health bulletins data, the study reveals how public hospitals bore the brunt of patient admissions, while private hospitals disproportionately handled ICU and ventilator cases. The analysis uncovers stark disparities in healthcare access, affordability, and policy response, indicating systemic bias that favoured private profit-driven models during a public health emergency. The study concludes by advocating for stronger regulation and stronger health infrastructure to ensure equitable health care access in crisis settings.