COVID disrupts health services in over 90% of countries -WHO | Inquirer News

COVID disrupts health services in over 90% of countries -WHO

/ 06:23 AM February 08, 2022

A doctor with Doctors Without Borders (MSF) attends to Marco Vargas, a patient who has the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), at a hospital where the organization is helping address mental health challenges faced by patients with the disease, in Caracas, Venezuela February 1, 2022. REUTERS/Leonardo Fernandez Viloria

A doctor with Doctors Without Borders (MSF) attends to Marco Vargas, a patient who has the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), at a hospital where the organization is helping address mental health challenges faced by patients with the disease, in Caracas, Venezuela February 1, 2022.(REUTERS)

GENEVA  – Disruptions in basic health services such as vaccination programmes and treatment of diseases like AIDS were reported in 92% of 129 countries, a World Health Organization survey on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic showed on Monday.

The survey, conducted in November-December 2021, showed services were “severely impacted” with “little or no improvement” from the previous survey in early 2021, the WHO said in a statement sent to journalists.

Article continues after this advertisement

“The results of this survey highlight the importance of urgent action to address major health system challenges, recover services and mitigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic,” the WHO said.

FEATURED STORIES

Emergency care, which includes ambulance and ER services, actually worsened with 36% of countries reporting disruptions versus 29% in early 2021 and 21% in the first survey in 2020.

Elective operations such as hip and knee replacements were disrupted in 59% of the countries and gaps to rehabilitative and palliative care were reported in about half of them.

Article continues after this advertisement

The survey’s timing coincided with surging COVID-19 cases in many countries in late 2021 due to the highly transmissible Omicron variant, piling additional strain on hospitals.

The WHO statement attributed the scale of disruptions to “pre-existing health systems issues” as well as decreased demand for care, without elaborating.

gsg
Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.
Your subscription has been successful.

Subscribe to our daily newsletter

By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

For more news about the novel coronavirus click here.
What you need to know about Coronavirus.
For more information on COVID-19, call the DOH Hotline: (02) 86517800 local 1149/1150.

The Inquirer Foundation supports our healthcare frontliners and is still accepting cash donations to be deposited at Banco de Oro (BDO) current account #007960018860 or donate through PayMaya using this link.

TAGS: COVID-19, healthcare, WHO

Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.
Your subscription has been successful.

Subscribe to our newsletter!

By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

© Copyright 1997-2024 INQUIRER.net | All Rights Reserved

This is an information message

We use cookies to enhance your experience. By continuing, you agree to our use of cookies. Learn more here.