China’s HMPV outbreak: Viral video shows crowded hospitals, patients on IV drips, but here’s the truth
China is making headlines again for yet another virus, this time it sparked global fears in connection with human metapneumovirus (HMPV). Amid hears of resurgence of the Covid-19 pandemic situation, China’s healthcare system seems to be in turmoil.
Viral videos of overcrowded hospitals are doing the rounds on social media where children are being administered intravenous (IV) drips as parents anxiously wait for their child’s condition to improve. These videos in wide circulation have raised concerns worldwide, but it is important to note that the overcrowding in hospitals is not due to severity of the disease but due to major structural problem in the healthcare system of the country.
Images suggesting a situation of public alarm has taken the internet by storm which depict crowded hospital wards, medical staff in protective gear and long queues of patients.
Let’s uncover the truth behind these videos and images
Public health centres (PHCs) in China are unsatisfactory, as stated in the Chinese research the International Journal of Health Policy and Management. In most countries, people approach PHCs first for medical services before going to hospitals for minor ailments.
Amid lack of PHCs, parents flock to hospitals before consulting local general practitioners. During this harsh winter, large hospitals have become crowded and appear overwhelming. This the time when numerous infections are already circulating and infecting people.
However, Chinese government increased investment in PHC facilities over the past 10 years, but the historical practice of visiting hospitals continues to this day. Chinese citizens tend to visit large hospitals and ask for IV drips even for minor illnesses, several published studies suggest.
In the wake of poor coordination between primary, secondary and tertiary care, China’s healthcare system is “severely fragmented.” Thus, patients reaching out to tertiary hospitals instead of primary or secondary healthcare centres. This is the reason behind overwhelming hospital scenes.
