The Indian Practitioner

Open Access Open Access  Restricted Access Subscription Access
Open Access Open Access Open Access  Restricted Access Restricted Access Subscription Access

Comparing COVID-19 Pandemic Responses of Three South Asian Countries - Bhutan, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh


Affiliations
1 The Indian Practitioner; Physician and Healthcare Commentator, Mumbai, India
     

   Subscribe/Renew Journal


South Asia has been hit hard economically by the COVID-19 pandemic, while apparently having done better in terms of mortality and morbidity than many Western countries. This article compares the COVID-19 responses of three South Asian countries, namely Bhutan, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh. Robust and agile containment efforts along with spirited community cooperation appear to be the key ingredients for Bhutan’s success. Early implementation of lockdown and other measures along with rigorous tracing, testing, and isolation helped Sri Lanka limit much of its cases to clusters and quarantine centres. On the other hand, Bangladesh’s poorer performance can be explained with a weaker “trace, test, and treat” strategy, coupled with high population density and less effective implementation of control measures. While frank comparisons between countries are inaccurate given the differing contexts, useful insights can nonetheless emerge from comparative analyses of country responses.

Keywords

COVID-19, Coronavirus, South Asia, Pandemic Response, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh.
Subscription Login to verify subscription
User
Notifications
Font Size


  • The Economic Times [Internet]. Bhutan confirms first coronavirus case. 2020 Mar 6 [Cited 2020 Nov 6]. Available from: https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/international/world-news/bhutan-confirms-first-coronavirus-case/articleshow/74506428.cms

  • NorthEast Now [Internet]. Bhutan confirms second coronavirus case. 2020 Mar 20 [Cited 2020 Nov 6]. Available from: https://nenow.in/north-east-news/assam/bhutan-confirms-second-coronavirus-case.html

  • Bubna V. How Covid-19 is being fought in Bhutan [Internet]. Asia Times. 2020 Oct 8 [Cited 2020 Nov 6]. Available from: https://asiatimes.com/2020/10/how-covid-19-is-being-fought-in-bhutan/

  • Yangchen S. Bhutan’s preparedness and response to COVID19 [Internet]. Observer Research Foundation. 2020 Apr 16 [Cited 2020 Nov 6]. Available from: https://www.orfonline.org/expert-speak/bhutans-preparedness-and-response-to-covid19-64711/

  • Ongmo S, Parikh T. What Explains Bhutan’s Success Battling COVID-19? [Internet]. The Diplomat. 2020 May 8 [Cited 2020 Nov 6]. Available from: https://thediplomat.com/2020/05/what-explains-bhutans-success-battling-covid-19/

  • NorthEast Now [Internet]. Bhutan confirms third COVID-19 case. 2020 Mar 26 [Cited 2020 Nov 6]. Available from: https://nenow.in/top-news/bhutan-confirms-third-covid-19-case.html

  • Dem P. 309 return from India and the Maldives [Internet]. Kuensel. 2020 Apr 10 [Cited 2020 Nov 6]. Available from: https://kuenselonline.com/309-return-from-india-and-the-maldives/

  • The World Bank [Internet]. World Bank Fast-Tracks $5 Million for Bhutan’s COVID-19 (Coronavirus) Response. 2020 Apr 27 [Cited 2020 Nov 6]. Available from: https://www.worldbank.org/en/news/press-release/2020/04/16/world-bank-fast-tracks5-million-for-bhutans-covid-19-coronavirus-response

  • Zam T. The sixth COVID-19 case in de-isolation after testing negative twice [Internet]. Bhutan Broadcasting Service. 2020 May 8 [Cited 2020 Nov 6]. Available from: https://www.bbs.bt/news/?p=132007

  • Dendup T. Republic of Korea provides a grant support of USD 400,000 to Bhutan [Internet]. Bhutan Broadcasting Service. 2020 May 25 [Cited 2020 Nov 6]. Available from: https://www.bbs.bt/news/?p=132641

  • ET Healthworld [Internet]. Bhutan imposes 1st nationwide coronavirus lockdown. 2020 Aug 13 [Cited 2020 Nov 6]. Available from: https://health.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/industry/bhutan-imposes-1st-nationwide-coronavirus-lockdown/77521282

  • Rinzin YC. Phuentsholing’s community transmission story [Internet]. Kuensel. 2020 Aug 25 [Cited 2020 Nov 6]. Available from: https://kuenselonline.com/phuentsholings-community-transmission-story/

  • Colombo Page [Internet]. First patient with coronavirus reported in Sri Lanka. 2020 Jan 27 [Cited 2020 Nov 6]. Available from: http://www.colombopage.com/archive_20A/Jan27_1580144354CH.php

  • Adaderana.lk [Internet]. National Action Committee to prevent spread of coronavirus in Sri Lanka. 2020 Jan 26 [Cited 2020 Nov 6]. Available from: http://www.adaderana.lk/news_intensedebate.php?nid=60442

  • Jayasekera SA. First ever COVID 19 patient identified in Sri lanka [Internet]. Daily Mirror. 2020 March 12 [Cited 2020 Nov 6]. Available from: http://www.dailymirror.lk/print/front_page/First-ever-COVID-19-patient-identified--in-Sri-lanka/238-184765

  • Colombo Gazette [Internet]. Sri Lanka bans entry to all passenger flights and ships. 2020 Mar 22 [Cited 2020 Nov 6]. Available from: https://colombogazette.com/2020/03/22/sri-lanka-bans-entry-to-all-passenger-flights-and-ships/

  • Colombo Page [Internet]. Resumption of civilian life and office work to begin from May 11. 2020 May 1 [Cited 2020 Nov 6]. Available from: http://www.colombopage.com/archive_20A/May01_1588349980CH.php

  • Jayasena H, Chinthaka W. COVID-19 and developing countries: lessons learnt from the Sri Lankan experience. Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine. 2020 Sep 15. https://doi.org/10.1177%2F0141076820947367

  • Economynext [Internet]. Sri Lanka sets up special COVID-19 fund with open invitation for local & foreign donations. 2020 March 23 [Cited 2020 Nov 6]. Available from: https://economynext.com/sri-lanka-sets-up-special-covid-19-fund-with-open-invitationfor-local-foreign-donations-61429/

  • TRTWorld [Internet]. Why Sri Lanka’s response to Covid-19 is the most successful in South Asia. 2020 Aug 18 [Cited 2020 Nov 6]. Available from: https://www.trtworld.com/asia/why-sri-lanka-s-response-to-covid-19-is-the-most-successful-in-southasia38998

  • Farzan Z. 4000 sailors and their families quarantine at Welisara Navy Camp [Internet]. Newsfirst.lk. 2020 Apr 24 [Cited 2020 Nov 6]. Available from: https://www.newsfirst.lk/2020/04/24/4000-sailors-and-their-families-quarantine-at-welisara-navycamp/

  • Paul R. Bangladesh confirms its first three cases of coronavirus [Internet]. Reuters. 2020 Mar 8 [Cited 2020 Nov 6]. Available from: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-bangladesh-idUSKBN20V0FS

  • Rashid M. 312 Bangladeshis quarantined in Dhaka after arriving from Wuhan [Internet]. New Age Bangladesh. 2020 Feb 1 [Cited 2020 Nov 6]. Available from: https://www.newagebd.net/article/98297/312-bangladeshis-quarantined-in-dhaka-afterarrivingfrom-wuhan

  • Islam K, Ali S, Akanda SZR, Rahman S, Kamruzzaman AHM, Pavel SAK, Baki J. COVID -19 Pandemic and Level of Responses in Bangladesh. Int J Rare Dis Disord. 2020;3:019. doi.org/10.23937/2643-4571/1710019

  • Disease Control Division, Directorate General of Health Services, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh. National Guidelines on Clinical Management of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (Covid-19) [Internet]. Version 4.0. 2020 March 30 [Cited 2020 Nov 6]. Available from: http://www.mohfw.gov.bd/index.php?option=com_ docman&task=doc_download&gid=22424〈=en

  • The Business Standard [Internet]. Govt decides not to extend general holidays further. 2020 May 27 [Cited 2020 Nov 6]. Available from: https://tbsnews.net/coronavirus-chronicle/covid-19-bangladesh/general-holiday-not-extend-further-state-minister-85870

  • The Straits Times [Internet]. Coronavirus: Rohingya camps in Bangladesh put under ‘complete lockdown’. 2020 Apr 9 [Cited 2020 Nov 6]. Available from: https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/south-asia/coronavirus-rohingya-camps-in-bangladesh-putundercomplete-lockdown

  • The Daily Star [Internet]. International flights from Dhaka resume. 2020 Jun 16 [Cited 2020 Nov 6]. Available from: https://www.thedailystar.net/supplements/aviation-and-tourism/news/international-flights-dhaka-resume-1915373

  • Adhikary TS, Habib WB. Curbs on public movement go [Internet]. The Daily Star. 2020 Sep 1 [Cited 2020 Nov 6]. Available from: https://www.thedailystar.net/frontpage/news/curbs-public-movement-go-1953769

  • Ahmed I, Liton S. 21-day lockdown enough? Cambridge University study says: NO! [Internet]. The Business Standard. 2020 Apr 8 [Cited 2020 Nov 6]. Available from: https://tbsnews.net/coronavirus-chronicle/covid-19-bangladesh/21-day-lockdownenoughcambridge-university-study-says-no

  • The World bank [Internet]. Hospital beds (per 1,000 people) - Bangladesh. [Cited 2020 Nov 6]. Available from: https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SH.MED.BEDS.ZS?locations=BD

  • Mukhopadhyay A. How Sri Lanka successfully curtailed the coronavirus pandemic [Internet]. DW. 2020 May 18 [Cited 2020 Nov 6]. Available from: https://www.dw.com/en/how-sri-lanka-successfully-curtailed-the-coronavirus-pandemic/a-53484299

  • Zakaria AKM. Coronavirus: Lack of testing will increase the risk [Internet]. Prothom Alo (in Bengali). 2020 Mar 17 [Cited 2020 Nov 6]. Available from:

  • Hasan R. Shambolic: 142 Italy returnees allowed to go home after day-long mismanagement [Internet]. The Daily Star. 2020 Mar 15 [Cited 2020 Nov 6]. Available from: https://www.thedailystar.net/frontpage/news/shambolic-1880866

  • Asadullah MN, Savoia A. Comparing Pandemic Responses in Bangladesh and Kerala [Internet]. The Diplomat. 2020 Sep 14 [Cited 2020 Nov 6]. Available from: https://thediplomat.com/2020/09/comparing-pandemic-responses-in-bangladesh-and-kerala/

  • Thinley S, Tshering P, Wangmo K, Wangchuk N, Dorji T, Tobgay T, Sharma J. The kingdom of Bhutan health system review. Patcharanarumol W,Tangcharoensathien V, editors. World Health Organization. Regional Office for South-East Asia;2017. Available for download from: https://apps.who.int/iris/handle/10665/255701

  • Chowdhury S, Banu LA, Chowdhury TA, Rubayet S, Khatoon S. Achieving Millennium Development Goals 4 and 5 in Bangladesh. BJOG 2011;118 (Suppl. 2):36–46.

  • UNDP in the Bangladesh [Internet]. Millennium Development Goals. [Cited 2020 Nov 6]. Available from: https://www.bd.undp.org/content/bangladesh/en/home/post-2015/millennium-development-goals.html

  • Statista [Internet]. Health expenditure as a share of gross domestic product in Bhutan from 2007 to 2016. [Cited 2020 Nov 6]. Available from: https://www.statista.com/statistics/780501/health-expenditure-share-of-gdp-bhutan/

  • Statista [Internet]. Health expenditure as a share of gross domestic product in Sri Lanka from 2007 to 2016. [Cited 2020 Nov 6]. Available from: https://www.statista.com/statistics/780525/health-expenditure-share-of-gdp-sri-lanka/#:~:text=In%202016%2C%20the%20health%20expenditure,percent%20of%20the%20country’s%20GDP.

  • Statista [Internet]. Health expenditure as a share of gross domestic product in Bangladesh from 2007 to 2016. [Cited 2020 Nov 6]. Available from: https://www.statista.com/statistics/780494/health-expenditure-share-of-gdp-bangladesh/


Abstract Views: 268

PDF Views: 0




  • Comparing COVID-19 Pandemic Responses of Three South Asian Countries - Bhutan, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh

Abstract Views: 268  |  PDF Views: 0

Authors

Soham D. Bhaduri
The Indian Practitioner; Physician and Healthcare Commentator, Mumbai, India

Abstract


South Asia has been hit hard economically by the COVID-19 pandemic, while apparently having done better in terms of mortality and morbidity than many Western countries. This article compares the COVID-19 responses of three South Asian countries, namely Bhutan, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh. Robust and agile containment efforts along with spirited community cooperation appear to be the key ingredients for Bhutan’s success. Early implementation of lockdown and other measures along with rigorous tracing, testing, and isolation helped Sri Lanka limit much of its cases to clusters and quarantine centres. On the other hand, Bangladesh’s poorer performance can be explained with a weaker “trace, test, and treat” strategy, coupled with high population density and less effective implementation of control measures. While frank comparisons between countries are inaccurate given the differing contexts, useful insights can nonetheless emerge from comparative analyses of country responses.

Keywords


COVID-19, Coronavirus, South Asia, Pandemic Response, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh.

References