COVID-19 Pandemic: the convalescence from a Hiccup

This article was exclusively written for The European Sting by Dr. Aqsa Shafique, a global health and digitalization leader and skilled medical professional pursuing her PhD in Health Sciences at University of York, UK. She is affiliated with the International Federation of Medical Students Associations (IFMSA), cordial partner of The Sting. The opinions expressed in this piece belong strictly to the writer and do not necessarily reflect IFMSA’s view on the topic, nor The European Sting’s one.

During the Covid-19 pandemic, the world became well versed about the globalisation of health issues. Where many agendas besides Covid stretch across borders, and require global partnerships and collaborations. One coherent approach that is part of these agendas is universal health coverage, which can augment the global momentum for strengthening health systems. A multitude of learning and experience have been provided by COVID-19 for the improvement of health systems, especially in the area of health systems governance, which was crucial to enable an agile response. By encouraging community involvement and multisectoral efforts, the national policy discourse has been crucial in guaranteeing a Covid strategy that encompasses the entire government and society, going beyond the health sector. Although often mentioned as a fundamental component of robust health systems, leadership and governance in particular have proven to be challenging to define, even more so to quantify, and hence a goal for policy reform – no matter how tough – can be achieved.

The pandemic’s appearance and effects have had serious, probably long-term effects on UHC implementation and priorities. Changing risk factor profiles and the degree to which efficient medical and preventative care interventions have been put in place determine whether or not a country will accomplish the targets by 2030. However, the struggle with COVID-19-related public health and social measures has strengthened our resilience and given us additional chances to work together closely. Regardless of the fact that each country was at a different pace of achieving UHC goals, the pandemic has pushed each country’s deadlines years ahead of 2030.

Resource mobilisation during the Covid-19 pandemic has taught us what is possible. Education, employment and retention of the health and care workforce became an urgent need at that time, and prospects as a significant priority in achieving SDGs in a shorter time span – we may be able to salvage the time lost due to the pandemic. 

Health must be a priority when decision making is tabled in any nation. In order to enhance the ability of health systems to provide health and care services, as well as public health functions, and to promote broader advantages in the fields of health sciences, technology, and research, societies must engage in education and training, support and protection as well as motivation and retention of the healthcare workforce.

As countries work to develop and operationalize universal health coverage, the models and approaches used in the Covid-19 era have been efficiently and effectively applied to show relevant applications in addressing health system shortfalls as well as broader, more integrated health challenges. However, if these efforts are not sufficiently acknowledged, valued, and funded, neither Covid nor other health and development aims can be accomplished. A major lesson from this pandemic directs us towards forecasting, preventing, preparing as well as adapting, absorbing and responding to emergencies and health crisis while maintaining essential health services – these require multi stakeholder engagement, policy coherence and complete-government approach in building resilience in health systems to maintain and accelerate towards UHC recovery despite the Covid-19 hiccup.

About the author

Dr. Aqsa Shafique is a global health and digitalization leader and skilled medical professional pursuing her PhD in Health Sciences at University of York, UK. She  completed her MBBS at Combined Military Hospital in Lahore, Pakistan, received a Masters in Public Health at Health Services Academy in Islamabad, Pakistan. She believes in empathising with the society to address major mental health issues and challenges it is facing – to strive and achieve certain success in alleviating the heavily stigmatised pain and suffering. Her aspirations drive her to strengthen the community and advocate for making a difference in everyone’s own capacity.