**Abstract**

COVID-19 has affected millions worldwide. To combat the infectious pandemic in resource limited settings, healthcare workers and techies have come up with multiple innovations. Nations with scarcity of resources have resorted to innovative strategies involving optimal utilization and repurposing of available commodities to overcome the demand–supply mismatch. Emergency rooms overburdened with diseased population are resorting to local innovative ideas to overcome obstacles in COVID-19 patient care. Point of care testing strategies in emergency rooms, sampling booths to reduce Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) use, disinfection strategies such as tunnel disinfection and local production of sanitizers, face masks/ shields, aerosol containment chambers, novel triage protocols, telehealth care strategies reaching out to remote population and utilizing point for care ultrasound for resuscitation are few of the novel innovations which have benefitted medical fraternity and patient care in testing times. Medical innovations have emerged as the positive outcome of otherwise devastating COVID-19 pandemic. These practice changing innovations could also prove beneficial in future infectious pandemics.

**Keywords:** COVID-19, innovations, emergency care, resource limited settings, demand–supply mismatch

## **1. Introduction**

COVID-19 pandemic has affected millions worldwide. Most developing countries being densely populated, has witnessed swarming number of cases. To combat the infectious pandemic in the resource constraint settings healthcare workers and techies have come up with multiple innovations [1]. Government has also played a role by implementing policies of universal masking, physical distancing, lockdowns, ban on mass gatherings, testing, tracing and isolating suspected and positive cases [2]. Challenges faced by developing economies have been distinct in comparison to those faced by developed nations during the pandemic situation. The COVID-19 pandemic has had devastating impact on already fragile developing nation economies. To cater to demand–supply mismatches, countries have resorted to innovative ideas with available resources. Emergency care deemed a crucial component of

healthcare systems, has been affected enormously. Emergency department has been operating as frontline portal of entry for patients with undifferentiated symptoms into the healthcare setup. Innovations to facilitate emergency care, to reduce burden over healthcare systems, to ensure standard care for all emergency patients by bridging economic and knowledge gaps are being implemented in majority of developing nations.
