India questions WHO's methodology for counting Covid fatalities

India objected to claims made in an article in the New York Times titled “India is Stalling WHO’s Efforts to Make Global Covid Death Toll Public'.. On Sunday, authorities questioned the World Health Organisation’s methodology used to estimate the Covid mortalities in the country, which the article quoted.

India said that one size fit all approach and models which are true for smaller countries like Tunisia may not be applicable to India with a population of 1.3 billion.

Read also: 127, 299, 325: Delhi's Covid daily tally rises again; positivity rate 2.39% from 0.5% in a week

The article pegs India’s declared number of Covid deaths to be much higher than the government data. According to the WHO’s estimate, the number of Covid fatalities stands at 40 lakh, up from the official estimate of approximately 5 lakh deaths.

India's basic objection has not been with the result, but the methodology adopted, the union health ministry said in a statement. India has shared its concerns along with other member states through a series of formal communications, including six letters issued to WHO.