Protecting essential health services in low-income and middle-income countries and humanitarian settings while responding to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Blanchet, Karl; Alwan, Ala; Antoine, Caroline; Cros, Marion Jane; Feroz, Ferozuddin; Amsalu Guracha, Tseguaneh; Haaland, Oystein; Hailu, Alemayehu; Hangoma, Peter; Jamison, Dean; +8 more... Memirie, Solomon Tessema; Miljeteig, Ingrid; Jan Naeem, Ahmad; Nam, Sara L; Norheim, Ole Frithjof; Verguet, Stéphane; Watkins, David; Johansson, Kjell Arne; (2020) Protecting essential health services in low-income and middle-income countries and humanitarian settings while responding to the COVID-19 pandemic. BMJ global health, 5 (10). e003675-e003675. ISSN 2059-7908 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjgh-2020-003675

Abstract

In health outcomes terms, the poorest countries stand to lose the most from these disruptions. In this paper, we make the case for a rational approach to public sector health spending and decision making during and in the early recovery phase of the COVID-19 pandemic. Based on ethics and equity principles, it is crucial to ensure that patients not infected by COVID-19 continue to get access to healthcare and that the services they need continue to be resourced. We present a list of 120 essential non-COVID-19 health interventions that were adapted from the model health benefit packages developed by the Disease Control Priorities project.

Additional Information

Item Type	Article
Faculty and Department	Faculty of Public Health and Policy > Dept of Global Health and Development
Research Centre	Covid-19 Research
PubMed ID	33028701
Elements ID	151760