Content:
- A medical oxygen access gap SE Asia must bridge
- Introspecting counter-terrorism after Operation Sindoor
A medical oxygen access gap SE Asia must bridge
Significance of Medical Oxygen
- Oxygen is a life-saving essential medicine with no substitute.
- Over 5 billion people globally lack safe, quality, affordable oxygen access.
- COVID-19 pandemic exposed the severe vulnerabilities in oxygen infrastructure, especially in LMICs (Low- and Middle-Income Countries).
Relevance : GS 2(Health) ,GS 3(Infrastructure)
Practice Question : The COVID-19 pandemic exposed the systemic oxygen infrastructure vulnerabilities in low- and middle-income countries, particularly in South-East Asia. Examine the challenges and suggest long-term strategies to ensure equitable access to medical oxygen in the region.(250 Words)
Oxygen Gap in South-East and East Asia
- South Asia & East Asia/Pacific have the highest unmet oxygen needs:
- Oxygen service coverage gap: 78% (South Asia) and 74% (East Asia & Pacific).
- WHO and The Lancet have identified these as priority zones for immediate action.
Key Challenges in Oxygen Access
Infrastructure & Equipment Deficiency:
- Only 54% of hospitals in LMICs have pulse oximeters.
- Only 58% have access to medical oxygen.
- Lack of monitoring tools leads to delayed diagnosis and preventable deaths.
Financial Constraints:
- Global need: $6.8 billion, of which South Asia needs $2.6 billion.
- Many LMICs face competing healthcare priorities, limiting oxygen funding.
Shortage of Skilled Workforce:
- Lack of trained biomedical engineers and technicians hampers:
- Installation
- Maintenance
- Repair of oxygen equipment.
Systemic Gaps & Recommendations
- Need for long-term, multi-pronged strategy:
- Policy support
- Innovation
- Sustainable financing
- WHO’s Access to Medical Oxygen Scorecard helps track progress and accountability.
Regional & Cross-Border Initiatives
- WHO-led training of biomedical engineers in Nepal, benefitting Bhutan.
- A model for replication across LMICs to ensure sustainability.
Innovation and Localisation
- Promote local production to reduce import dependency.
- Invest in decentralised systems:
- Portable concentrators
- Solar-powered generators
- Booster pumps
- Community oxygen hubs
- Example: Solar-powered oxygen plants in Ethiopia and Nigeria improved access in remote areas.
Governance and Policy Imperatives
- Governments must:
- Integrate oxygen into Universal Health Coverage and emergency preparedness.
- Create regulatory frameworks for quality, safety, storage, and distribution.
Role of Multiple Stakeholders
- Private Sector:
- Invest in local production, supply chains, and cost-effective solutions.
- Global Health Agencies:
- Ensure continued funding and technical support post-COVID
- Academia & Research:
- Focus on low-cost, adaptable technologies for LMICs.
- Promote real-time digital monitoring and predictive analytics.
Call to Action
- Oxygen access = Human right, not a privilege.
- Must transition from crisis response to long-term investment.
- Maximise existing COVID-era PSA plants, ensure operational readiness.
- WHO stands ready to support with technical expertise.
Introspecting counter-terrorism after Operation Sindoor
Contextual Background
- Pahalgam Attack (April 22) by Pakistan-backed terrorists prompted India’s retaliatory Operation Sindoor (May 7).
- While Operation Sindoor marks tactical success, its strategic depth in altering long-term terrorism threats remains debatable.
Relevance : GS 3(Internal Security)
Practice Question : Operation Sindoor highlights India’s evolving counter-terrorism capabilities. Critically analyse why tactical military successes alone are insufficient in eliminating the threat of terrorism in Jammu & Kashmir. Suggest a comprehensive internal-external strategy.(250 Words)
Complexity of Terrorism in J&K
- Since 1989, J&K’s insurgency shifted from indigenous roots to foreign terrorist infiltration by mid-1990s.
- Local factors like identity crisis, repression, marginalisation, and political alienation are core enablers of Pakistan’s proxy war.
- The terrorism ecosystem in J&K is a complex interplay of external support and internal grievances — military solutions alone are insufficient.
Progress & Trends
- As per SATP data, terrorism-related fatalities have drastically declined:
- From 4000+ in 2001 to 127 in 2024.
- Attributed to:
- Strengthening of the security grid.
- Government outreach to locals.
- Pakistan’s weakened ability to conduct high-intensity proxy warfare.
On Deterring Pakistan
- Past kinetic actions (e.g., 2016 Surgical Strikes, 2019 Balakot) failed to permanently deter Pakistan:
- Fatalities increased post-operations.
- Even after Operation Sindoor, Pakistan:
- Claimed victory via state narrative.
- Promoted military nationalism, e.g., General Asim Munir being elevated.
- Revived internal militaristic pride — strategic deterrence still elusive.
Ground Reality in the Region
- Local terror recruitment is lower than during Burhan Wani era, but still crucial.
- Foreign terrorists are more self-reliant and tech-savvy, but still need local support networks.
- Security voids in Jammu (due to troop reallocation to Galwan) exploited by new terror outfits:
- The Resistance Front (TRF)
- People’s Anti-Fascist Front (PAFF)
- Kashmir Tigers
- HUMINT (human intelligence) has weakened.
- Pahalgam attackers remain at large, highlighting persistent security and intelligence lapses.
Beyond Kinetic Warfare
- Local condemnation of the Pahalgam massacre shows a strategic opening for counter-terrorism.
- This public support must be harnessed — not undermined by punitive or alienating tactics like:
- Demolition of suspected terrorist homes.
- Mass arrests without legal process.
Strategic Takeaways
- External military response is necessary but not sufficient.
- Oversimplification of terrorism as just an “external” issue obscures the deeper internal vulnerabilities.
- India needs to embrace non-kinetic tools:
- Political dialogue, economic development.
- Social inclusion and grievance redressal.
- Restoring trust between people and the state.
- Key principle: “People as the centre of gravity” — any long-term solution must empower locals.
