The COVID-19 Pandemic: An analytical study on opportunities for circular economy practices in India’s healthcare sector

Abstract

COVID-19 pandemic has long-lasting impact in social, personal, and economic area globally. When we think of the economic recovery of India in the future, we face the challenge of moving forward more sustainably. An international NGO ARUP had published a worldwide report named ‘Health.Care.Without.Harm’; mentioning that only healthcare sector itself is accountable for about 4.4 percent of universal net emissions. The present study, therefore, highlights the vulnerabilities in the linear economy and how the pandemic crisis challenges the linear economy and provide opportunity to uptake circular practices and sustainable development within India’s healthcare economy. The paper outlines the recommendations on the circular economy by suggesting policy and market-driven solutions for the healthcare sector’s sustainability.

(*The paper was presented at the AICTE International Conference on Circular Economy, Management and Industry, Bharati Vidyapeeth’s Institute of Management Studies and Research, Navi Mumbai and Apeejay School of Management, Dwarka, Delhi, India. October 2021)