Decoding the role of community and social medicine during Covid-19 pandemic

COVID-19 has proved to be a social disease due to its widespread diffusion in the general population across the globe. While socialization is a risk factor for the spread of the SARS-COV-2, health protection measures such as isolation and lockdown further aggravated the 'social' burden of COVID-19. Diseases with social impact require a management approach based on social medicine, integrating health, social and economic responses. Pandemics have significantly affected the economy of each country. Health, Education and political systems have also been drastically affected in each part of the country. To fight against pandemic, it demands multidimensional approaches consisting of various measures like surveillance, containment, isolation and quarantine, border restriction as well as various socio-political and community measures. Though the entire health workforce is involved at multiple levels, the role of a community medicine/public health expert is more significant in controlling its spread and managing the situation. This review has been done for giving an insight of proper utilisation of public health services and existing manpower of community medicine. Also this will channelize our health system and impart a direction for combating future public health crises. So the Government should utilise the experiences and expertise to manage the pandemic very well.