India expresses disappointment over WHO's COVID mortality report, says authentic data not taken into account

Geneva, May 24: Expressing disappointment over the World Health Organisation's COVID mortality report, India said that the report by WHO on all-cause excess mortality was published ignoring the concern expressed by India and other countries.

 

Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya raised the objection over the WHO's report while speaking at the World Health Assembly in Geneva.

 

He said, "India would like to express its disappointment over the manner in which the report by WHO on all-cause excess mortality was prepared and published, ignoring the concern expressed by India and other countries."

 

 

 

Raising questions over the methodology and model that were used by WHO for its report, he also pointed out that the WHO set aside the country-specific authentic data from the statutory authority of India while preparing the said report. "Over the methodology & sources of data, setting aside the country-specific authentic data from the statutory authority of India," he said.

 

 

 

"Central Council of Health & Family Welfare, a constitutional body having a representation of health ministers from all states within India, passed a unanimous resolution asking me to convey their collective disappointment and concern in this regard," Mansukh Mandaviya further stated.

 

The WHO report, which was released earlier this month, said 47.4 lakh people in India died in 2020 and 2021 either directly due to the infection or through its indirect impacts. This is nearly ten times the official Covid-19 toll of 4.81 lakh at the end of 2021.

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