Most countries have made strides in incorporating COVID-19 services into routine health service delivery
Three years into the COVID-19 Pandemic, health systems across the world have now started showing the first significant signs of recovery, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
In early 2023, countries reported fewer interruptions in providing regular healthcare services, but they still emphasised the need for recovery and increased resilience, stated the WHO interim report released on May 2, 2023.
Most countries have made strides in incorporating COVID-19 services into routine health service delivery, the global health agency noted. Nearly 80-90 per cent of countries have wholly included services for post–COVID-19 conditions, diagnostic and case management services and COVID-19 vaccination in their routine service delivery.
Also read: Scarred: The COVID-19 pandemic destroyed human capital. Its impact will haunt our future
However, some 80 per cent of the countries reported at least one barrier to expanding access to crucial COVID-19 tools (such as COVID-19 diagnostics, therapeutics, vaccines and personal protective equipment), with health workforce issues and a lack of funding serving as the most typical ones.
WHO received responses from 139 countries; on average, those countries stated that over a quarter of their services are still being disrupted. In 84 countries where trend analysis was possible, the percentage of interrupted services decreased to 23 per cent in November 2022-January 2023 from 56 per cent in July-September 2020, WHO found.
“It is welcome news that health systems in the majority of countries are starting to restore essential health services for millions of people who missed them during the pandemic,” said Dr Rudi Eggers, WHO director for Integrated Health Services.
But we need to ensure that all countries continue to close this gap to recover health services and apply lessons learnt to build more prepared and resilient health systems for the future, Eggers added.
Very few countries were reported to have intentionally scaled back access across health service delivery platforms and essential public health functions since 2020-2021, which indicates a significant step towards pre-pandemic levels.
Also read: COVID-19 fallout: Immune amnesia may be lurking amid millions of missing measles shots
By the end of 2022, most countries reported partial signs of service recovery. This includes recovery in healthcare services for sexual, reproductive, maternal, newborn, child and adolescent health; nutrition; immunisation; communicable diseases; neglected tropical diseases; non-communicable diseases; management of mental, neurological and substance use disorders; care for older people; and traditional and/or complementary care.
Despite signs of improvement, service interruptions continue in all countries, regions and socioeconomic levels. Rising service backlogs in countries often delay the screening, diagnosis and treatment of non-communicable diseases, WHO noted.
The pandemic has had a devastating effect on services for health and immunisation worldwide. An estimated 19.7 million children under one year did not receive basic vaccines in 2019, according to WHO.
The disruption has led to outbreaks of diseases, including measles, diphtheria, polio and yellow fever.
To mitigate the post-pandemic disruption in vaccine services, the World Health Organization, UNICEF, Gavi the Vaccine Alliance, along with Immunization Agenda 2030 and a host of other public health organisations, have come together to implement The Big Catch-up in April 2023.
The Big Catch-up is “a targeted global effort to boost vaccination among children following declines driven by the COVID-19 Pandemic”.
We are a voice to you; you have been a support to us. Together we build journalism that is independent, credible and fearless. You can further help us by making a donation. This will mean a lot for our ability to bring you news, perspectives and analysis from the ground so that we can make change together.
By the end of 2022, most countries reported partial signs of service recovery. Photo: iStock..png)
Comments are moderated and will be published only after the site moderator’s approval. Please use a genuine email ID and provide your name. Selected comments may also be used in the ‘Letters’ section of the Down To Earth print edition.