The Lancet journal has called on the narendra modi government to own up mistakes, provide responsible leadership and implement a science-based response to steer india out of its Covid-19 crisis. The journal cited how the government had allowed religious festivals to proceed, along with huge political rallies, despite warnings about the risks of super-spreader events. The indian Medical Association (IMA), the country's largest body of doctors, accused the modi government of inappropriate actions, hiding data and deaths and failing to plan a roadmap to ensure adequate vaccines were available. The commentary comes amid India's brutal second wave that has raised the country’s seven-day average of daily cases 22-fold from 17,000 to 389,000 in eight weeks, overwhelmed hospitals and healthcare workers, and exposed poor preparedness that led to medical shortages. The Lancet said that at times, the modi government seemed "more intent on removing criticism on twitter than trying to control the pandemic. The success of the efforts to address the crisis will depend on the government owning up to its mistakes and providing responsible leadership.

The Lancet's commentary is in line with concerns among multiple experts within and outside india about the leadership and policy-making apparatus that has pushed india into its current crisis. The IMA, representing over 350,000 doctors nationwide, said the Union health ministry's failure to prepare the necessary roadmap to ensure sufficient vaccine stocks had resulted in a shortage of vaccine doses. A survey by the indian Council of Medical Research in january suggested that only 21 per cent of the country's population had acquired immunity against Covid-19, implying that the vast majority of people remained susceptible. The journal said the country should also expand genome sequencing to better track, understand and control the emerging and more transmissible coronavirus variants. It also called on the government to introduce a "well-planned, pre-announced national lockdown" rather than lockdowns for 10 to 15 days in some states. The health ministry has already asked states with high daily case numbers and hospital bed occupancy greater than 60 per cent.

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