Mishal Khan

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A street vendor arranging facemasks at his stall in Hyderabad, India. Photo by NOAH SEELAM/AFP via Getty Images.

MundoAsia

What is causing this crisis in India?

Perhaps this is the first time in the pandemic we have seen a major health system close to collapsing under the strain of so many people requiring hospital care, although maybe Manaus in Brazil was a similar example. The accounts of people dying in queues as they try to access life-saving care or dying in hospitals which run out of oxygen is terrifying and extremely concerning. The response from the national and state governments has been very mixed.

In many respects, this is a consequence of India’s chronically under-funded health system with just over one per cent of GDP spent on public health financing.…  Seguir leyendo »

A woman in a face mask walks past a poster stating 'Please believe these days will pass' in east London on 25 April 2020. Photo: Getty Images.

InternacionalSalud Pública, ,

The end of 2020 brought with it a new round of restrictions to curtail the growth in COVID-19 cases in several European countries, including the UK, Germany and Italy. As these restrictions – and the high number of infections and death – continue into 2021, it is critical to remember that COVID-19, and policies to address it, do not impact all population groups equally.

The equity implications of policies to address COVID-19 should be given greater consideration. It is well documented that it was the austerity measures taken to address economic effects of the 2008 financial crisis, rather than the crisis itself, that caused health inequities to grow and life expectancy to fall.…  Seguir leyendo »

Girl makes chalk drawings on the driveway of her home to help brighten the mood of people passing by during the coronavirus pandemic. Photo by Thomas A. Ferrara/Newsday RM via Getty Images.

InternacionalSalud Pública,

Irrespective of geographical location, income per capita and political system, the gaps in countries’ systems to prevent and control infectious disease outbreaks are strikingly similar. Addressing these gaps is essential to combat COVID-19 – which looks likely to be a recurring challenge – and also presents an opportunity to make investments that simultaneously advance equity and well-being more broadly.

Access to quality healthcare, free at the point of use for everyone, has proven to be a game changer for countries’ ability to contain infectious disease outbreaks. A lack of universal health coverage (UHC) prevents some people – such as those who cannot afford to pay for services or are not covered by employers’ insurance schemes, or are undocumented migrants – from accessing testing and treatment services quickly.…  Seguir leyendo »