COVID-19 Disrupted Half of 25 Key Health Services Globally

admin September 1, 2020 Daily Current Affairs

Countries experienced disruptions in at least half the 25 kinds of health services due to the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, according to the findings of a survey conducted by the World Health Organization (WHO) in its five regions.
Immunisation-outreach services were the most hit (70 per cent), while non-communicable diseases (NCD) diagnosis and treatment was the second-most impacted (69 per cent). They were followed by family planning and contraception (68 per cent), treatment for mental health disorders and facility-based services (61 per cent) and cancer diagnosis and treatment (55 per cent).
The reasons for the disruption in these services were from both, demand and supply factors.
On the demand side, patients did not present themselves for outpatient care, with several holding lockdowns to be responsible for curbing access to such care.
Several respondents also said financial difficulties were responsible for inhibiting access to healthcare.
A number of supply side factors, including cancellation of elective care, workforce-related difficulties and unavailability of services affecting services as well.