The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed critical gaps in India’s public health infrastructure, highlighting the urgent need for systemic reforms to strengthen preparedness for future health crises. Beginning in late 2019, the pandemic has posed significant mental health challenges for frontline doctors worldwide. Studies conducted between 2019 and 2024 indicate alarming increases in stress, anxiety, depression, and burnout among medical professionals, largely due to long working hours in high-pressure environments, fear of infection, and inadequate institutional support. For instance, Lai et al. (2020) ^[5] reported that anxiety affected 74% of frontline doctors, while depression rates reached 67%. By 2024, approximately 60% of doctors reported insufficient access to psychological support, reflecting variability in institutional response efforts.