The bitter dispute over India’s pandemic mortality
2 years, 7 months ago

The bitter dispute over India’s pandemic mortality

The Hindu  

How many people died in India as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic? Several studies, most putting India’s pandemic excess deaths at between three and five million, have been met by strident Government “rebuttals”. The latest response is well summarised in its title: “India strongly objects to the use of mathematical models for projecting excess mortality estimates in view of the availability of authentic data”. The “authentic data” in question is mortality data from the Civil Registration System, and there are two implications: that CRS data has been ignored by the researchers; that CRS data does not support estimates of high pandemic mortality. Consider, also, Andhra Pradesh, where freely available CRS data tells a startling story: during 15 months from April 2020 to June 2021, over 50% more deaths were registered than expected.

India Pandemic Deaths Data Uttar Pradesh States Registration State 2020 Crs Excess Mortality Excess Deaths Crs Data Pandemic Mortality High Pandemic Mortality  data  pandemic  bitter  excess  mortality  crs  registration  deaths  indias  2020  india  dispute

History of this topic

New covid death estimate: Does the Indian govt's rebuttal add up?
5 months ago

New covid death estimate: Does the Indian govt's rebuttal add up?

Live Mint  

A new study by researchers at several universities, including the University of Oxford, estimates 1.19 million ‘excess deaths’ in India in 2020, the first year of covid-19, compared to the preceding year. This is for a subsample of 14 states and Union territories, but the authors said that if other states followed the same trends, it would add up to …

Centre rejects study claiming 11.9 lakh excess deaths in India during 2020 COVID-19 pandemic
5 months ago

Centre rejects study claiming 11.9 lakh excess deaths in India during 2020 COVID-19 pandemic

The Hindu  

The Union Health Ministry has rubbished reports highlighting a higher number of deaths in 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic in India. “It is strongly asserted that an excess mortality of about 11.9 lakh deaths reported in the Science Advances paper in 2020 over the previous year is a gross and misleading overestimate. In a statement issued on Saturday, the Ministry …

Study estimates 11.9 lakh excess deaths in 2020 during pandemic, 8 times more than official
5 months ago

Study estimates 11.9 lakh excess deaths in 2020 during pandemic, 8 times more than official

Hindustan Times  

New Delhi, In India, 11.9 lakh excess deaths occurred in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic, 17 per cent higher compared to 2019, an international study has found. Study estimates 11.9 lakh excess deaths in 2020 during pandemic, 8 times more than official The estimate is about eight times higher than the official COVID-19 deaths in India, and 1.5 times the …

India’s hidden COVID deaths: Was the toll in 2020 eight times higher?
5 months ago

India’s hidden COVID deaths: Was the toll in 2020 eight times higher?

Al Jazeera  

India had nearly 1.2 million excess deaths in 2020, new data shows. New Delhi, India – India’s actual death toll during the first phase of the COVID-19 pandemic that ravaged the world’s most populous country could be eight times higher than the government’s official numbers, reveals a new study. The numbers in the research, based on the Indian government’s 2019-21 …

The COVID-19 death toll in India, getting it right
1 year, 1 month ago

The COVID-19 death toll in India, getting it right

The Hindu  

The COVID-19 pandemic extracted a heavy mortality toll across the world during 2020 and 2021, and this has been a huge global public health concern. Gaps in registration data India faced a big challenge in estimating excess deaths directly due to COVID-19 as death registration in India is still about 70%, which further varies widely across States and districts. India’s …

Health Matters | Of monsoons, maladies and medicine
1 year, 6 months ago

Health Matters | Of monsoons, maladies and medicine

The Hindu  

Now that the Southwest monsoon has arrived, there’s always some romanticism in the air along with the petrichor, but this time, a little trepidation too. The Joint Malnutrition Estimates released by UNICEF, WHO and World Bank has a mixed bag for India, but the gains in reducing stunting are quite significant: In the decade between 2012 and 2022, stunting among …

WHO's process of estimating Covid-19 deaths unscientific, says Govt
2 years, 5 months ago

WHO's process of estimating Covid-19 deaths unscientific, says Govt

India TV News  

WHO Covid death estimation: The mathematical modelling approach adopted by the WHO to project excess mortality estimates related to COVID-19 suffers from erroneous assumptions and is unscientific and India had registered its strong objection to this methodology, the government informed Parliament on Tuesday. India had objected to the "one size fits all" approach adopted by the WHO as it might …

India’s excess mortality crossed 7 lakh in 2020
2 years, 6 months ago

India’s excess mortality crossed 7 lakh in 2020

The Hindu  

Affecting around 52 crore people, the COVID-19 pandemic has hit every nook and corner of the world, contributing to 1.5 crore excess deaths from January 1, 2020 to December 31, 2021 as per the latest World Health Organization estimates. The estimate by The Lancet places India at first having the highest number of cumulative excess deaths due to COVID-19 at …

Central government rejects WHO’s estimate of India's COVID deaths
2 years, 7 months ago

Central government rejects WHO’s estimate of India's COVID deaths

The Hindu  

ON May 5, the World Health Organisation released its much-awaited report on excess mortality due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite India’s objection to the process, methodology and outcome of this modelling exercise, WHO has released the excess mortality estimates without adequately addressing India’s concerns.” Drawing attention to the Civil Registration System report released just two days earlier, the Health Ministry …

Why India must come clean on Covid-19 deaths
2 years, 7 months ago

Why India must come clean on Covid-19 deaths

Hindustan Times  

In a soft, sad tone, Jagjyot Singh talks about “fighting till the end”. His mother, Sarabjeet, admitted for Covid-19 at Delhi’s Jaipur Golden Hospital, died on the fateful night of April 23, 2021, when oxygen ran out in the intensive care unit. The death certificate issued in Jagjyot’s mother’s name describes the manner of death as “natural,” and the cause …

There is no getting past the pandemic till we credibly count COVID-19 deaths
2 years, 7 months ago

There is no getting past the pandemic till we credibly count COVID-19 deaths

The Hindu  

The World Health Organization recently released a report that estimated global deaths from COVID-19 across 2020-2021. However, the estimates for India are broadly consistent with estimates from a number of independent groups, all falling in the broad range of 2.2 million to 6 million deaths. This compares estimates of the actual death toll with the number of deaths expected in …

How India Thwarted WHO Attempt to Time Flawed Estimate of Covid Deaths With UP Elections
2 years, 7 months ago

How India Thwarted WHO Attempt to Time Flawed Estimate of Covid Deaths With UP Elections

News 18  

India has not only strongly objected to the use of mathematical models by the World Health Organization for projecting excess mortality estimates linked to the Covid-19 pandemic, but also reportedly countered attempts by the UN body to time the release of its report around Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections. “Despite India’s objection to the process, methodology and outcome of this modelling …

WHO 'excess Covid death' report: Govt lens on pharma firms denied entry to India
2 years, 7 months ago

WHO 'excess Covid death' report: Govt lens on pharma firms denied entry to India

India Today  

The government has not ruled out the possibility of the role of global pharmaceutical majors influencing the World Health organisation report that suggested that 4.7 million people died in India as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic against the official tally of 4.8 lakh during the January 2020-December 2021 period. In a serious charge against the global health watchdog, top …

When India challenged global HIV data and won
2 years, 7 months ago

When India challenged global HIV data and won

The Hindu  

Last week, Union Health Ministry sources stated that India will take up “glaring anomalies’’ in a World Health Organisation report on excess mortality estimates associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. “They are quoting different figures when we ourselves don’t have any data on deaths,” the then health minister C.P. “New, more accurate estimates of HIV indicate that approximately 2.5 million people …

Calculation of India’s Covid Deaths Complex, Changes in Modelling Can Affect Numbers: Ex-ICMR Scientist
2 years, 7 months ago

Calculation of India’s Covid Deaths Complex, Changes in Modelling Can Affect Numbers: Ex-ICMR Scientist

News 18  

The calculation of deaths due to Covid-19 in India is “quite complex” and there are “no definite answers”, former Indian Council of Medical Research scientist Dr Raman Gangakhedkar told News18.com, responding to the latest data released by the World Health Organization, which claims that Covid could have killed as many as 47.4 lakh people in India in 2020-21. Gangakhedkar, who …

WHO report on Covid deaths in India mischievous, says health ministry official
2 years, 7 months ago

WHO report on Covid deaths in India mischievous, says health ministry official

India Today  

A top health ministry source has called the World Health Organisation's finding that 4.7 million people had died in India directly due to Covid or due to the pandemic’s impact on health systems and society "mischievous". Following the report, India strongly objected to the use of mathematical models by the WHO for projecting excess mortality estimates linked to the coronavirus …

Science does not lie, PM Modi does: Rahul Gandhi on WHO Covid death numbers
2 years, 7 months ago

Science does not lie, PM Modi does: Rahul Gandhi on WHO Covid death numbers

India Today  

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday attacked the government over a WHO report which claimed India's Covid death toll was recorded at 47 lakh. He also demanded that the government supports the families that have lost loved ones by giving them the mandated Rs 4 lakh compensation. pic.twitter.com/p9y1VdVFsA — Rahul Gandhi May 6, 2022 The WHO on Thursday stated that …

ICMR DG questions WHO\'s COVID death estimates for India
2 years, 7 months ago

ICMR DG questions WHO\'s COVID death estimates for India

Deccan Chronicle  

New Delhi: After World Health Organization's excess mortality estimates for COVID, the Director General of the Indian Council of Medical Research Dr Balram Bhargava on Thursday said the country has systemic data pool and it does not need to rely on "modelling, extrapolations and press reports" for ascertaining COVID-related death. DR Bhargava laid emphasis on systemic data instead of modelling …

WHO has released the excess death estimates without adequately addressing India’s concerns: Health Ministry
2 years, 7 months ago

WHO has released the excess death estimates without adequately addressing India’s concerns: Health Ministry

The Hindu  

India will take up the “glaring anomalies’’ in the report by the World Health Organisation on excess mortality estimates associated with the COVID-19 pandemic at the highest and appropriate forum, said sources in the Health Ministry on Thursday. Despite India’s objection to the process, methodology and outcome of this modelling exercise, the WHO has released the excess mortality estimates without …

Centre questions estimate model after WHO claims 4.7 million excess Covid deaths in India
2 years, 7 months ago

Centre questions estimate model after WHO claims 4.7 million excess Covid deaths in India

India Today  

The government of India has challenged the estimates of the country’s Covid deaths by the World Health Organisation. Following the report, India strongly objected to the use of mathematical models by the WHO for projecting excess mortality estimates linked to the coronavirus pandemic in view of the availability of authentic data. What WHO said on excess Covid deaths As per …

India's COVID-19 toll the highest, says WHO; government questions validity of model
2 years, 7 months ago

India's COVID-19 toll the highest, says WHO; government questions validity of model

Firstpost  

According to the report, there were 4.7 million COVID deaths in India – 10 times the official figures and almost a third of COVID deaths globally New Delhi: India on Thursday strongly objected to the use of mathematical models by the World Health Organization for projecting excess mortality estimates linked to the coronavirus pandemic in view of the availability of …

Nearly 15 million deaths in the last two years were associated with COVID-19, WHO says
2 years, 7 months ago

Nearly 15 million deaths in the last two years were associated with COVID-19, WHO says

LA Times  

Nearly 15 million people were killed either by COVID-19 or by the coronavirus’ impact on overwhelmed health systems in the past two years — more than double the official death toll of 6 million, the World Health Organization said Thursday. Scientists tasked by the WHO with calculating the actual number of COVID-19 deaths between January 2020 and the end of …

What official data says about Covid-year excess deaths
2 years, 7 months ago

What official data says about Covid-year excess deaths

Live Mint  

On Tuesday, India released data on births and deaths registered in 2020. The Civil Registration System collates data on all births and deaths registered with local authorities across India. The CRS can help us reach an estimate by using the “excess deaths" approach, which is the difference between the total number of deaths registered in a pandemic year and the …

India Saw Uptick in Deaths, Fewer Births Registered in First Year of Pandemic: CRS Data
2 years, 7 months ago

India Saw Uptick in Deaths, Fewer Births Registered in First Year of Pandemic: CRS Data

News 18  

India saw an uptick in the number of deaths registered in 2020, the first year of the pandemic, while the number of births registered in the Civil Registration System in that year declined 2.4 per cent as compared to 2019. The number of deaths increased by 6.2 per cent in 2020 from the year before that, according to data released …

Settling India’s COVID-19 mortality data
2 years, 7 months ago

Settling India’s COVID-19 mortality data

The Hindu  

Over the last year, the World Health Organization has been busy, in an unprecedented effort, to calculate the global death toll from COVID-19. There are gaps Several news reports have pointed at a significant gap in India’s COVID-19 story — significantly under-reported mortality figures. Because as in these figures, India would have had close to four times the COVID-19 deaths …

Explained | Why is India concerned about WHO approach on excess deaths during the pandemic?
2 years, 8 months ago

Explained | Why is India concerned about WHO approach on excess deaths during the pandemic?

The Hindu  

The story so far: Reports published in the website devex.com and The New York Timesindicate that the World Health Organization was set to release an estimate of excess deaths during the pandemic period the world over and that the report had been delayed for months because of objections from the Indian government. The Hindu’s Data Team estimated that the excess …

An honest reckoning: On simmering dispute between India and WHO about COVID deaths
2 years, 8 months ago

An honest reckoning: On simmering dispute between India and WHO about COVID deaths

The Hindu  

The visit of Tedros Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization, to Gujarat for the Global Ayush Investment and Innovation Summit coincides with a simmering dispute between India and WHO on its forthcoming report on excess COVID-19 deaths between 2020 and 2021. A report in The New York Times claims that WHO estimates India accounted for four million deaths, or …

India accused of trying to stall effort by WHO to revise global Covid death toll
2 years, 8 months ago

India accused of trying to stall effort by WHO to revise global Covid death toll

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy India has been accused of …

India’s excess COVID deaths statement inaccurate, says WHO technical group member
2 years, 8 months ago

India’s excess COVID deaths statement inaccurate, says WHO technical group member

The Hindu  

“Inaccurate,” is how a scientist, part of a World Health Organisation team computing the global death toll of the COVID-19 pandemic, described India’s objections to the method used. The Union Health Ministry on Saturday, in response to article, “India is Stalling the WHO’s Efforts to Make Global Covid Death Toll Public” on the same day in The New York Times, …

India logs 43% drop in daily numbers with 1,247 new Covid cases
2 years, 8 months ago

India logs 43% drop in daily numbers with 1,247 new Covid cases

Hindustan Times  

A day after reporting a worrisome 90 per cent jump in daily Covid numbers, India on Tuesday logged 1,247 fresh cases and only one death in the last 24 hours, according to the health ministry data. The daily fatalities were drastically less than Monday's data that showed 214 deaths. The number of infections on Tuesday are almost 43 per cent …

India: COVID cases hit month-high, Kerala reports spike in deaths
2 years, 8 months ago

India: COVID cases hit month-high, Kerala reports spike in deaths

Al Jazeera  

Daily cases nearly double from the previous day to more than 2,000 for the first time in a month, government data shows. The capital, New Delhi, last week tightened COVID precautions for schools, and neighbouring Uttar Pradesh, India’s most populous state, again made masks compulsory in public places in some districts. India has reported a total of about 522,000 deaths …

India questions WHO's methodology to estimate Covid-19 deaths across nations
2 years, 8 months ago

India questions WHO's methodology to estimate Covid-19 deaths across nations

India Today  

India on Saturday questioned the World Health Organisation's methodology to estimate Covid-19 mortalities in the country, saying using such a mathematical modelling cannot be applied to estimate the death figures for such a vast nation of geographical size and population. The Union health ministry issued a statement in response to a New York Times article titled “India Is Stalling WHO's …

India questions WHO\'s methodology to estimate COVID-19 mortalities
2 years, 8 months ago

India questions WHO\'s methodology to estimate COVID-19 mortalities

Deccan Chronicle  

New Delhi: India on Saturday questioned the World Health Organisation's methodology to estimate COVID-19 mortalities in the country, saying using such a mathematical modelling cannot be applied to estimate the death figures for such a vast nation of geographical size and population. The Union health ministry issued a statement in response to a New York Times article titled “India Is …

India objects to WHO's methodology after report claims 4 million Covid deaths
2 years, 8 months ago

India objects to WHO's methodology after report claims 4 million Covid deaths

Hindustan Times  

India has objected to the methodology used by the World Health Organization for estimating the deaths caused by coronavirus disease in the country. The health ministry said in a statement released Saturday that “India’s basic objection has not been with the result but rather the methodology adopted for the same.” The health ministry stated India has been in a "regular …

India objects to WHO methodology for calculating COVID-19 toll
2 years, 8 months ago

India objects to WHO methodology for calculating COVID-19 toll

The Hindu  

India has been in regular and in-depth technical exchange with the World Health Organization on the issue of collecting and making public the COVID-19 death toll in the country, the Union Health Ministry said on Saturday in response to The New York Times article titled India Is Stalling the WHO’s Efforts to Make Global Covid Death Toll Public dated April …

Lancet report on India’s alleged excess deaths due to COVID-19 faulty: Government
2 years, 9 months ago

Lancet report on India’s alleged excess deaths due to COVID-19 faulty: Government

The Hindu  

A study published in an international journal claiming COVID-19 mortality in India is higher than official counts is speculative and misinformed said the Health Ministry on Friday in a statement issued by it. The Lancet reported recently that excess mortality rates due to COVID-19 among the Indian States are not the highest in the world, because of India’s large population, …

Why is India seeing a rise in death rate despite low Covid cases?
2 years, 10 months ago

Why is India seeing a rise in death rate despite low Covid cases?

India TV News  

While the active caseload has reported a marginal decline in India, the country is seeing a surge in deaths due to Covid-19. India is currently going through its third Covid wave triggered mostly by the highly contagious Omicron variant. The variant, touted as majorly causing mild illness, had initially led to a spike in Covid case numbers, but the number …

More evidence of excess deaths in India during pandemic
2 years, 11 months ago

More evidence of excess deaths in India during pandemic

The Hindu  

In the State-wise data compiled by the Union Government, represented by the Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati in the Supreme Court, it was shown based on media reports that 6,14,211 claims of compensation for deaths due to COVID-19 were filed in 20 States against the reported death toll of 4,29,872 in those States. Gujarat reported only 10,094 deaths but there …

'Excess deaths' during the pandemic in India was 5.8 times the official COVID-19 death toll
3 years, 3 months ago

'Excess deaths' during the pandemic in India was 5.8 times the official COVID-19 death toll

The Hindu  

The “excess deaths” registered during the pandemic period was 5.8 times the official COVID-19 death toll in 11 Indian States/Union Territories put together, whose Civil Registration System data was accessed by The Hindu. to remove AMP mode Click The chart plots the death registration level against the share of registered deaths that were medically certified in States/UTs as of 2019. …

India records 42,618 COVID cases, 330 deaths; active cases up for fourth consecutive day
3 years, 3 months ago

India records 42,618 COVID cases, 330 deaths; active cases up for fourth consecutive day

Firstpost  

New Delhi: India’s COVID-19 infection tally rose by 42,618 in a day to reach 3,29,45,907 while the number of active cases touched 4,05,681 following an increase for the fourth consecutive day, according to the Union health ministry data updated on Saturday. The number of active cases now comprise 1.23 percent of the total infections, while the national COVID-19 recovery rate …

Lessons from India’s all-cause mortality data
3 years, 4 months ago

Lessons from India’s all-cause mortality data

The Hindu  

The scale of devastation caused by India’s COVID-19 epidemic is gradually becoming clearer. If these 12 States reflect the national picture, then India saw around 2.8 million excess deaths nationwide during April 2020-May 2021. Global comparison Using limited data for June, or assuming that the ratio of excess deaths to official COVID-19 deaths does not change rapidly, we estimate 3.5 …

Why counting the dead matters
3 years, 4 months ago

Why counting the dead matters

The Hindu  

Among the many infrastructural deficiencies that were exposed during India’s deadly second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, the inaccuracy in counting the number of the dead and the lack of data on the cause of death were particularly glaring. The MDS has shown that capturing and quantifying data on the cause of death can be done at low cost, with …

Data | India's excess deaths could be highest among nations with the most recorded COVID-19 fatalities
3 years, 4 months ago

Data | India's excess deaths could be highest among nations with the most recorded COVID-19 fatalities

The Hindu  

The Hindu has estimated that “ ” registered during the pandemic period, based on the Civil Registration System data from eight States, was 8.22 times the recorded COVID-19 death toll, a figure that will rank the highest among nations with the most recorded fatalities due to the virus. Excess deaths were calculated as the difference between the registered deaths in …

'Totally fallacious', says Govt over reports of India's Covid death toll being undercounted
3 years, 5 months ago

'Totally fallacious', says Govt over reports of India's Covid death toll being undercounted

India TV News  

Refuting media reports that alleged India's COVID-19 death toll was "vastly undercounted", the government on Thursday said the reports assume that all excess mortality figures are Covid deaths, which is not based on facts and totally fallacious. Given the robust and statute-based death registration system in India, while some cases could go undetected as per the principles of infectious disease …

India’s excess deaths could be up to 49 lakh, says estimate
3 years, 5 months ago

India’s excess deaths could be up to 49 lakh, says estimate

The Hindu  

India’s excess deaths during the COVID-19 pandemic could be as high as 49 lakh, according to a new study that provides further evidence that millions more may have died from coronavirus than the official tally. The report by the Washington-based Center for Global Development, co-authored by India’s former chief economic adviser Arvind Subramanian, included deaths from all causes since the …

India’s pandemic death toll could be in the millions
3 years, 5 months ago

India’s pandemic death toll could be in the millions

Associated Press  

NEW DELHI — India’s excess deaths during the coronavirus pandemic could be a staggering 10 times the official COVID-19 toll, likely making it modern India’s worst human tragedy, according to the most comprehensive research yet on the ravages of the virus in the South Asian country. It said an accurate figure may “prove elusive,” but the true death toll “is …

India's excess deaths during Covid-19 pandemic up to 4.9 million: Study
3 years, 5 months ago

India's excess deaths during Covid-19 pandemic up to 4.9 million: Study

Hindustan Times  

India’s excess deaths during the coronavirus disease pandemic could be as high as 4.9 million, according to a new study, suggesting that millions more may have lost their lives to the deadly virus than the official death toll. India’s official Covid-19 death toll is around 414,000, the third-highest in the world, but the study suggests a huge undercount. The study, …

India’s excess deaths during Covid cross four million to reach 10 times official count, says study
3 years, 5 months ago

India’s excess deaths during Covid cross four million to reach 10 times official count, says study

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy The number of excess deaths …

India’s true COVID-19 death toll is likely ‘in the several millions,’ report says
3 years, 5 months ago

India’s true COVID-19 death toll is likely ‘in the several millions,’ report says

LA Times  

Ramananda Sarkar, 43, who has cremated more than 450 COVID-19 victims, stands by burning funeral pyres in Gauhati, India. India’s “excess deaths” during the pandemic could be a staggering 10 times the official COVID-19 toll, likely making it modern India’s worst human tragedy, according to the most comprehensive research yet on the ravages of the coronavirus in the South Asian …

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