Skip to main content Accessibility help
×
Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-fbnjt Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-10T14:01:40.116Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Chapter 34 - Health System Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic

Fault Lines Exposed and Lessons Learned

from Section 2 - Transforming Health Systems: Confronting Challenges, Seizing Opportunities

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  08 December 2022

Sameen Siddiqi
Affiliation:
Aga Khan University
Awad Mataria
Affiliation:
World Health Organization, Egypt
Katherine D. Rouleau
Affiliation:
University of Toronto
Meesha Iqbal
Affiliation:
UTHealth School of Public Health, Houston
Get access

Summary

The COVID-19 pandemic has demonstrated that: 1) there is no single ‘cookie-cutter approach’ to health systems strengthening, and 2) health systems must be significantly more holistic and equitable. This chapter examines the global spread of COVID-19 and its impacts on health systems and communities. By analysing public health gaps and challenges in L&MICs, the authors provide concrete examples of innovations and interventions that were effective in responding to the pandemic. It explores how different health systems across L&MICs and HICs can be better equipped to mitigate health emergencies and maintain routine health services by leveraging a range of essential public health functions, primary health care, and risk management capacities. Health systems resilience is only possible when systems thinking is operationalized and aligned with the wider SDGs. There is a case for multisectoral engagement in mounting a comprehensive health systems response to COVID-19 at the national and global levels. The chapter offers lessons on why strengthening health systems -- through integrated investments and with equity and resilience as key objectives – is key to sustainably achieving health security and universal health coverage.

Type
Chapter
Information
Making Health Systems Work in Low and Middle Income Countries
Textbook for Public Health Practitioners
, pp. 529 - 544
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2022

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Kutzin, J., Sparkes, S. P.. Health systems strengthening, universal health coverage, health security and resilience. Bull World Health Organ 2016; 94(1): 2.Google Scholar
Ghebreyesus, T. A.. All roads lead to universal health coverage. 2017. www.who.int/news-room/commentaries/detail/all-roads-lead-to-universal-health-coverage (accessed June 18, 2021).Google Scholar
Kieny, M. P., Bekedam, H., Dovlo, D., et al. Strengthening health systems for universal health coverage and sustainable development. Bull World Health Organ 2017; 95(7): 537539.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
United Nations. Universal Declaration of Human Rights. www.un.org/en/about-us/universal-declaration-of-human-rights (accessed December 13, 2021).Google Scholar
Our World in Data. Coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccinations. 2022. https://ourworldindata.org/covid-vaccinations (accessed February 16, 2022).Google Scholar
World Health Organization. A World in Disorder: Global Preparedness Monitoring Board Annual Report 2020. Geneva, WHO, 2020. www.gpmb.org/docs/librariesprovider17/default-document-library/annual-reports/gpmb-2020-annualreport-en.pdf?sfvrsn=bd1b8933_36 (accessed February 16, 2022).Google Scholar
Gopinath, G., Long, A.. Uneven and uncertain ascent. IMF Blog. 2020. https://blogs.imf.org/2020/10/13/a-long-uneven-and-uncertain-ascent/ (accessed June 19, 2021).Google Scholar
World Health Organization. Health security. 2021. www.who.int/health-topics/health-security/#tab=tab_1 (accessed June 4, 2021).Google Scholar
Independent Panel for Pandemic Preparedness and Response. COVID-19: make it the last pandemic. 2021. https://theindependentpanel.org/mainreport (accessed June 10, 2021).Google Scholar
Dalglish, S. L.. COVID-19 gives the lie to global health expertise. Lancet 2020; 395(10231): 1189.Google Scholar
Lal, A., Erondu, N. A., Heymann, D. L., et al. Fragmented health systems in COVID-19: rectifying the misalignment between global health security and universal health coverage. Lancet 2021; 397(10268): 6167.Google Scholar
Usher, A. D.. Health systems neglected by Covid-19 donors. Lancet 2021; 397(10269): 83.Google Scholar
World Health Organization, World Bank. Tracking universal health coverage: 2021 global monitoring report – conference edition. 2021. https://cdn.who.int/media/docs/default-source/world-health-data-platform/events/tracking-universal-health-coverage-2021-global-monitoring-report_uhc-day.pdf?sfvrsn=fd5c65c6_5&download=true (accessed January 29, 2022).Google Scholar
World Bank, WHO. Half the world lacks access to essential health services, 100 million still pushed into extreme poverty because of health expenses. 2017. www.who.int/news/item/13-12-2017-world-bank-and-who-half-the-world-lacks-access-to-essential-health-services-100-million-still-pushed-into-extreme-poverty-because-of-health-expenses (accessed June 4, 2021).Google Scholar
Lal, A., Ashworth, H. C., Dada, S., et al. Optimizing pandemic preparedness and response through health information systems: lessons learned from Ebola to COVID-19. Disaster Med Public Health Prep 2022; 16: 333340.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Bali, S., Dhatt, R., Lal, A., et al. Off the back burner: diverse and gender-inclusive decision-making for COVID-19 response and recovery. BMJ Glob Health 2020; 5(5): e002595.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
World Health Organization. COVID-19 continues to disrupt essential health services in 90% of countries. 2021. www.who.int/news/item/23-04-2021-covid-19-continues-to-disrupt-essential-health-services-in-90-of-countries (accessed June 19, 2021).Google Scholar
Saha, S., Pai, M.. Can COVID-19 innovations and systems help low- and middle-income countries to re-imagine healthcare delivery? Med (N Y) 2021; 2(4): 369373.Google Scholar
World Bank. Current health expenditure (% of GDP). 2021. https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SH.XPD.CHEX.GD.ZS?view=map (accessed May 30, 2021).Google Scholar
World Bank. Hospital beds (per 1,000 people). 2021. https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SH.MED.BEDS.ZS (accessed June 10, 2021).Google Scholar
Saha, S., Ahmed, A. N. U., Sarkar, P. K., et al. The direct and indirect impact of SARS-CoV-2 infections on neonates: a series of 26 cases in Bangladesh. Pediatr Infect Dis J 2020; 39(12): e398e405.Google Scholar
Pai, M.. It’s time to use Covid-19 innovations and systems to reimagine TB care. 2020. www.forbes.com/sites/madhukarpai/2020/10/22/time-to-tap-covid-19-innovations–systems-to-reimagine-tb-care (accessed February 23, 2021).Google Scholar
Cohen, E.. Much of US data to catch newest coronavirus variants is several months old. 2021. www.cnn.com/2021/01/10/health/old-coronavirus-sequences/index.html (accessed February 8, 2022).Google Scholar
Government of Pakistan. COVID-19 health advisory platform. 2022. https://covid.gov.pk (accessed January 26, 2022).Google Scholar
Glover, R. E., van Schalkwyk, M. C. I., Akl, E. A., et al. A framework for identifying and mitigating the equity harms of COVID-19 policy interventions. J Clin Epidemiol 2020; 128: 3548.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Roberton, T., Carter, E. D., Chou, V. B., et al. Early estimates of the indirect effects of the Covid-19 pandemic on maternal and child mortality in low-income and middle-income countries: a modelling study. Lancet Glob Health 2020; 8(7): e901e908.Google Scholar
Balajee, S. A., Pasi, O. G., Etoundi, A. G. M., et al. Sustainable model for public health emergency operations centers for global settings. Emerg Infect Dis 2017; 23(13): PMC5711308.Google Scholar
Nuzzo, J. B., Meyer, D., Snyder, M., et al. What makes health systems resilient against infectious disease outbreaks and natural hazards? Results from a scoping review. BMC Public Health 2019; 19(1): 1310.Google Scholar
COVID-19, Online Resource and News Portal. COVID Alert SA app. 2021. https://sacoronavirus.co.za/covidalert (accessed January 26, 2022).Google Scholar
Turaga, S.. careFIJI COVID-19 tracing app now available to download. 2020. www.fijivillage.com/news/careFIJI-COVID-19-tracing-app-now-available-to-download-5f4xr8 (accessed January 26, 2022).Google Scholar
Ministry of Health. HaMagen 2.0. 2021. https://govextra.gov.il/ministry-of-health/hamagen-app/download-en (accessed January 26, 2022).Google Scholar
Moscow Times. Russia develops coronavirus contact-tracing app. 2020. www.themoscowtimes.com/2020/11/17/russia-develops-coronavirus-contact-tracing-app-a72068 (accessed January 26, 2022).Google Scholar
Government of India. Aarogya Setu. 2021. www.aarogyasetu.gov.in (accessed January 26, 2022).Google Scholar
Kim, J. H., An, J. A., Oh, S. J., et al. Emerging COVID-19 success story: South Korea learned the lessons of MERS. 2021. www.exemplars.health/emerging-topics/epidemic-preparedness-and-response/covid-19/south-korea (accessed February 8, 2022).Google Scholar
Singapore Government Agency. SafeEntry. 2021. www.safeentry.gov.sg (accessed January 26, 2022).Google Scholar
Bangkok Post. New anti-Covid phone app for use when entering shops. 2020. www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/1918092/new-anti-covid-phone-app-for-use-when-entering-shops (accessed January 26, 2022).Google Scholar
Tian, L., Li, X., Qi, F., et al. Harnessing peak transmission around symptom onset for non-pharmaceutical intervention and containment of the Covid-19 pandemic. Nat Commun 2021; 12(1): 1147.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Chen, S., Zhang, Z., Yang, J., et al. Fangcang shelter hospitals: a novel concept for responding to public health emergencies. Lancet 2020; 395(10232): 13051314.Google Scholar
Oliver, L.. Providing end-of-life care in a Nightingale hospital. Br J Nurs 2020; 29(17): 10441045.Google Scholar
Reuters. Brazil to hire more doctors to fight coronavirus, including Cubans. 2020. www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-brazil-cuba-idUKKBN21340F (accessed June 10, 2021).Google Scholar
HealthCare New Zealand. Free mental wellbeing support for frontline health workers. 2020. www.healthcarenz.co.nz/wellbeing-services (accessed June 10, 2021).Google Scholar
Burki, T.. Global shortage of personal protective equipment. Lancet Infect Dis 2020; 20(7): 785786.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
PAHO. PAHO Strategic Fund minimizes disruption of critical medications and supplies during COVID-19. 2020. www.paho.org/en/news/26-10-2020-paho-strategic-fund-minimizes-disruption-critical-medications-and-supplies-during (accessed October 26, 2020).Google Scholar
Haldane, V., Zhang, Z., Abbas, R. F., et al. National primary care responses to COVID-19: a rapid review of the literature. BMJ Open 2020; 10(12): e041622.Google Scholar
Blandford, A., Wesson, J., Amalberti, R., et al. Opportunities and challenges for telehealth within, and beyond, a pandemic. Lancet Glob Health 2020; 8(11): e1364e1365.Google Scholar
Lo, S., Gaudin, S., Corvalan, C., et al. The case for public financing of environmental common goods for health. HS&R 2019; 5(4): 366381.Google Scholar
G20 High Level Independent Panel on Financing the Global Commons for Pandemic Preparedness and Response. A global deal for our pandemic age. 2021. https://pandemic-financing.org/report (accessed February 17, 2022).Google Scholar
Clarke, L., Patouillard, E., Mirelman, A. J., et al. The costs of improving health emergency preparedness: a systematic review and analysis of multi-country studies. EClinicalMedicine 2022; 44: 101269.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Kandel, N., Chungong, S., Omaar, A., et al. Health security capacities in the context of COVID-19 outbreak: an analysis of International Health Regulations annual report data from 182 countries. Lancet 2020; 395(10229): 10471053.Google Scholar
Tangcharoensathien, V., Srisookwatana, O., Pinprateep, P., et al. Multisectoral actions for health: challenges and opportunities in complex policy environments. Int J Health Policy Manag 2017; 6(7): 359363.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Williamson, E. J., Walker, A. J., Bhaskaran, K., et al. Factors associated with COVID-19-related death using OpenSAFELY. Nature 2020; 584(7821): 430436.Google Scholar
International Labour Organization. Employment and informality in Latin America and the Caribbean: an insufficient and unequal recovery. 2021. www.ilo.org/wcmsp5/groups/public/–americas/–ro-lima/–sro-port_of_spain/documents/genericdocument/wcms_819029.pdf (accessed February 17, 2022).Google Scholar
Allin, S., Haldane, V., Jamieson, M., et al. Comparing policy responses to COVID-19 among countries in the Latin American and Caribbean Region. 2020. https://openknowledge.worldbank.org/handle/10986/35002 (accessed June 19, 2021).Google Scholar
Béné, C.. Resilience of local food systems and links to food security: a review of some important concepts in the context of COVID-19 and other shocks. Food Secur 2020; 12: 805822.Google Scholar
Government of Sri Lanka. Part 1: Section (I) – general government notifications. Colombo. 2020.Google Scholar
World Health Organization. Health Systems for Health Security: A Framework for Developing Capacities for International Health Regulations, and Components in Health Systems and Other Sectors That Work in Synergy to Meet the Demands Imposed by Health Emergencies. Geneva, WHO, 2021. www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240029682 (accessed February 16, 2022).Google Scholar

Save book to Kindle

To save this book to your Kindle, first ensure coreplatform@cambridge.org is added to your Approved Personal Document E-mail List under your Personal Document Settings on the Manage Your Content and Devices page of your Amazon account. Then enter the ‘name’ part of your Kindle email address below. Find out more about saving to your Kindle.

Note you can select to save to either the @free.kindle.com or @kindle.com variations. ‘@free.kindle.com’ emails are free but can only be saved to your device when it is connected to wi-fi. ‘@kindle.com’ emails can be delivered even when you are not connected to wi-fi, but note that service fees apply.

Find out more about the Kindle Personal Document Service.

Available formats
×

Save book to Dropbox

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Dropbox.

Available formats
×

Save book to Google Drive

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Google Drive.

Available formats
×