Sofiat Akinola
Project Lead, Shaping the Future of Health and Healthcare, World Economic Forum
COVID-19 has demonstrated that health is a public priority: each individual’s health is dependent on, and impacts, others around the world. The debate over access and affordability to health services is in the spotlight, especially as new diagnostics, therapeutics and eventually vaccines are developed.
For the first time in recent history, governments and the private sector are convinced of the need for investment into global public health as countries seek to deal with the immediate health crisis and prepare for the next one.
Within the current dialogue on how best to reset, there is much debate on “universal health coverage” – including accessible care, quality care and affordable care. An estimated 400 million people around the world lack access to basic health services. Each year, close to 100 million people are pushed into extreme poverty because they pay their own health costs.
Each year, close to 100 million people are pushed into extreme poverty because they pay their own health costs.
Public health challenges reverse global progress
These numbers have increased with the coronavirus – and will continue to increase as people lose jobs and health insurance. An estimated 5.4 million Americans have already lost their health insurance coverage. As health expenditures rise due to COVID-19 related testing, treatments and vaccines, the situation could get worse. Research shows that in the US, one in seven Americans wouldn’t seek coronavirus treatment because it costs too much.
The response to the pandemic has also consumed global health resources, derailing the progress made in global public health in the past decade. The diversion of resources from other public health challenges is exacerbating inequities in access to care, quality of care and financial hardship.
Universal health coverage is advantageous during pandemic
During the past months of the pandemic, we have seen that countries with universal coverage have had the advantage in responding to the virus – even though health systems everywhere were overwhelmed. As a baseline, these countries could offer access to testing or the ability to see a doctor when presenting symptoms without fear of out-of-pocket payment. This helped control the number of infections by enabling identification, isolation and appropriate treatment of people who were sick. It also helped with understanding of the reach of the virus.
For many, COVID-19 is more than a matter of health. The costs of the test or hospitalisation will mean financial hardship and even bankruptcy long after the pandemic ends.
For many, COVID-19 is more than a matter of health.
The
virus has shown how a global health crisis is a threat to not only lives, but
livelihoods. It’s time, therefore, to address both of these factors so that no
one is left behind. The Great Health Reset must sharpen the tools available in
the healthcare kit and guarantee that global healthcare is comprehensive,
consistent and universal.