Indians at greater risk from COVID-19 in UK’s health sector: Report

Indians make up one in 10 of all foreign-born doctors in UK’s National Health Service (NHS) and refore face a greater risk from coronavirus pandemic, according to a new report published on Friday.

Institute of Fiscal Studies (IFS) study, in its report analysing ethnic variables in impact of coronavirus, also found that Indians are among ethnic groups less likely to be impacted by ecomic consequences of lockdown imposed to curb spre of dely virus due to ir employment in more secure sectors.

“Indian men are particularly exposed to virus due to ir prevalence in healthcare roles,” said report titled ‘Are some ethnic groups more vulnerable to Covid-19 than ors?’

“Indian men are 150 per cent more likely to work in health or social care roles than ir white British counterparts. While Indian ethnic group makes up 3 per cent of working- population of England and Wales, y account for 14 per cent of doctors,” it said.

IFS analysis found that among UK’s working population, those working in health and social care may be at greatest risk of infection, with Indians facing a high risk due to ir sheer numbers.

While 37 per cent of UK’s doctors are foreign-born, nearly one in 10 are from India – all currently on frontline of coronavirus fightback in hospitals and or care settings.

In reference to its analysis of ecomic impact of pandemic on different ethnic groups, study found that Pakistani and Bangleshi households were more vulnerable among South Asian cohort due to a higher proportion of m in sectors which are undergoing shutdown due to social distancing rules.

“Ethnic groups also vary substantially in ir ecomic vulnerability under restrictions currently in place… Indian ethnic groups face lower ecomic risks and are more comparable to white British in this regard,” according to study.

“Bangleshi and Pakistani groups, by contrast, appear to be particularly at risk due to high percent of eir group working in shutdown sectors and/or in self-employment, combined with prevalence of single-earner households which reduces potential for income buffers within household,” it ded.

In its or findings, IFS study concluded that coronavirus patients from black African backgrounds in England and Wales are dying at more than triple rate of white Britons, followed by Pakistani men as next highest category.

Black and South Asian ethnic groups have been found to have much higher rates of diabetes than population as a whole, and older Pakistani men have been found to have particularly high levels of cardiovascular disease – all considered higher risk factors.

Besides, compared to white British households, mirity ethnic groups also tend to be more likely to live in overcrowded accommodation, making social distancing more difficult.

study concludes: “In sum, re is clear evidence for disproportionality in COVID-19 mortalities thus far for a number of ethnic groups after accounting for ir profiles and places of residence.

“While it is difficult to say definitively with data that are currently available, clustering of some mirity groups in key worker occupations – and in health and care key worker roles in particular – alongside greater susceptibility to relevant long-term conditions, are likely to be contributing factors to observed inequalities.”

analysis focuses on a limited set of risk factors in terms of both infection risk and ecomic vulnerability in short term and concludes that more research is required for a better understanding of disparity in impact of pandemic among different ethnicities.

UK government launched an official review, led by Public Health England, earlier this month as it emerged that black, Asian and mirity ethnic (BAME) are affected disproportionately by dely virus.