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a woman received a scan at a clinic in Bangladesh during covid-19

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COVID-19: Amplifying the need for rapid progress towards Universal Health Coverage

This crisis, unlike any other in our recent history, has amplified the need to accelerate efforts to build strong and resilient health systems, and achieve progress towards universal health coverage (...

The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted health systems in unprecedented ways. Urgent needs to respond to the crisis and mitigate its impact have been met with a lack of coordinated efforts across many countries. 

As health systems around the world are placed under considerable strains, essential health services are interrupted or displaced, and are rapidly becoming increasingly difficult to access by those who need them the most.  

This crisis, unlike any other in our recent history, has amplified the need to accelerate efforts to build strong and resilient health systems, and achieve progress towards Universal Health Coverage (UHC). UHC means that all people can obtain quality health services that they need without suffering financial hardship. 

The ‘great amplifier’ 

In many regards this pandemic is no different from past outbreaks; Far from being the ‘great leveller’ hitting poor and rich alike, as initially labelled by few governments, COVID-19 will result in just the opposite  not only perpetuating, but exacerbating and amplifying existing inequalities and injustices. 

Those likely to endure the most suffering during the crisis  and in its aftermath  are those already negatively impacted by marked health inequities and lacking access to quality and affordable health services in normal circumstances.

Alarmingly, the worse outcomes of COVID-19 are yet to be seen as the virus spreads across the most fragile settings, including in complex emergencies and protracted humanitarian crises, refugee camps, and nations with already weakened health systems.  

Women, girls, and marginalized groups are most likely to be disproportionally affected as this crisis continues to aggravate existing gaps in access to essential health services, including sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR)  as well as affecting their source of livelihood, increasing the risk of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) and limiting access to sexual health information and education. 

As they are also likely to carry a heavier burden of the devastating downstream economic and social consequences of this pandemic, applying a gender- and a human rights-lens is critical to ensure that we address the needs of women and girls, and those most vulnerable including the elderly, youth, people living with disabilities, migrants and refugees, as well as LGBTQI+ groups and sex workers.

A COVID-19 awarness workshop takes place in Bangladesh
A COVID-19 awareness training workshop for staff taking place at Family Planning Association Bangladesh 

Health systems on the brink

Most high-income countries have struggled to provide adequate protection to their healthcare workforce, in a context of record high demand for personal protective equipment (PPE), medical commodities, diagnostic testing, and specialized ICU equipment.   

As vital resources are reallocated towards these critical needs, access to essential health services has become increasingly restricted, including access to essential SRH services such as contraceptives, abortion care, pre- and post-natal healthcare, and SGBV. 

The lack of coordination between key decision-makers in charge of the response is made worse by the increasing politicization of healthcare, and the political exploitation of the crisis in attempts to shift the blame and exploit social divisions.

Now more than ever, progress towards UHC is needed 

During this crisis and its aftermath, strong and adequately resourced health systems are key to the success of immediate and long-term responses. Countries with effective universal health coverage, such as South Koreaand Singapore, have performed better during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Sustainable financing and investments in health care reforms will contribute to ensuring that all people can access affordable care, health workforces receive the training and equipment they need, infrastructures can respond to protracted crises, and that essential supplies can be more efficiently sourced and made available.    

As part of these efforts, strengthening primary health care (PHC) is fundamental to enhance efforts on prevention, early detection of diseases, and health education; PHC is critical to address this crisis in the long term by helping to administer future vaccines and treatments to millions who need them the most. 

COVID-19 has brought into focus the need for health care reforms that promote access to affordable care. Now more than ever, the bold commitments towards UHC made by governments must be upheld. Implementing rapid UHC reforms where they are needed the most will create pathways for actions that will not only help to address health inequities made worse by the pandemic, but also support the development of stronger and more resilient health systems able to provide timely responses to emergencies. 

 

Images courtesy of Family Planning Association Bangladesh

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Subject

Universal Health Coverage

by

Dr Fabian Cataldo
Dr Fabian Cataldo

Dr Fabian Cataldo has over the past 20 years, he has led research and advocacy efforts in Brazil, Malawi, and several other Southern African countries, with a focus on the social dimensions of care, health activism, HIV care and treatment access, and sexual and reproductive health and rights. Dr Cataldo holds a PhD and Masters in Anthropology.