- Region:
- India
- Category:
- Society
Dr Fauci says world has failed India as Covid cases surge
India has seen more Covid cases in the last seven days than any other country.
A ferocious second wave has seen the official death toll surpass 200,000 - experts believe the actual number may be higher.
People have died waiting for beds, as oxygen supplies run low and hospitals crumble under the strain.
US’s top infectious disease expert lambasts wealthy countries for failing to provide equitable access to coronavirus vaccines.
Dr Anthony Fauci, the White House’s chief medical adviser, has said countries have failed to unite to provide an adequate global response to prevent the “tragic” coronavirus outbreak from overwhelming India, and singled out wealthier nations for failing to provide equitable access to healthcare around the world.
Speaking to Guardian Australia from the US, Fauci said the situation in India had highlighted global inequality.
“The only way that you’re going to adequately respond to a global pandemic is by having a global response, and a global response means equity throughout the world,” Fauci said.
“And that’s something that, unfortunately, has not been accomplished. Often when you have diseases in which there is a limited amount of intervention, be it therapeutic or prevention, this is something that all the countries that are relatively rich countries or countries that have a higher income have to pay more attention to.”