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Current Impact and Long-Term Influence of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Global and Public Health, Public Policy and Healthcare Systems: Socio-Economic Aspects – Series of Case Studies

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A special issue of Epidemiologia (ISSN 2673-3986).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 August 2022) | Viewed by 38887

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Prof. Dr. Antoine Flahault

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Guest Editor

1. Swiss School of Public Health (SSPH+), Hirschengraben 82, 8001 Zürich, Switzerland
2. Institute of Global Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, CH-1202, 8001 Geneva, Switzerland
Interests: global health; public health; travel and migrant health medicine; biomathematics
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Prof. Dr. Michel Kazatchkine

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Guest Editor

Global Health Center, The Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies, 1211 Geneva, Switzerland
Interests: clinical immunology; autoimmunity and immunotherapies; HIV/AIDS; tuberculosis; hepatitis; Covid-19; global health governance and diplomacy; drug policy

Dr. Liudmila Rozanova

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Guest Editor

Institute of Global Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, CH-1202, 8001 Geneva, Switzerland
Interests: epidemic modeling; structure and dynamics of complex systems; complex networks; modeling of social behavior
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Sana de Courcelles

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Guest Editor

Institute of Global Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, CH-1202, 8001 Geneva, Switzerland
Interests: public policies; public innovation; global health; citizen participation

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The COVID-19 pandemic represents a major challenge for health systems around the world. As cases increased at staggering rates across the globe, health systems were overwhelmed, with many pushed to operate at or beyond capacity level. The short-term priority was to provide emergency care in a crisis.

Such unprecedented pressure is likely to have repercussions for the general population that will continue long after the pandemic is over, and this is especially true for currently un- or under-addressed chronic diseases, mental health, and the health consequences of prolonged economic decline.

All countries will soon have to address some of the long-term challenges associated with the pandemic, such as the deployment of mass vaccinations and revaccinations, the consequences of long-term COVID-19 syndrome, and the need for permanent preventive and mitigative measures against the reemergence of the epidemic—all of which present unique public health challenges for which systems must be prepared.

Therefore, it is important and relevant to highlight strategic priorities for reconfiguring healthcare systems.

Successfully tackling pandemics requires many dimensions of multilateral cooperation. COVID-19 continues to present challenges and opportunities, and while the fast development and approval of vaccines and EU-wide vaccine passports have been successful, the pandemic has contributed to an increasing global divide. The EU, the US, the UK and the Commonwealth, Russia, China (for all their sphere of influence), and the developing countries all have different strategies for pandemic response, with weak cooperation and information exchange between these regions. Understanding the differences between the various approaches, and further consideration on how international cooperation could be improved to increase the efficiency of pandemics mitigation measures worldwide, is fundamental.

Prof. Dr. Antoine Flahault
Prof. Dr. Michel Kazatchkine
Dr. Liudmila Rozanova
Sana de Courcelles
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Epidemiologia is an international peer-reviewed open access quarterly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 1200 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

COVID-19
public health
global health
healthcare systems
public policy
socioeconomic impact

Published Papers (9 papers)

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Research

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22 pages, 2013 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Current Impact and Long-Term Influence of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Iraqi Healthcare Systems: A Case Study

by Taysir Al Janabi and Sunny Chung

Epidemiologia 2022, 3(4), 412-433; https://doi.org/10.3390/epidemiologia3040032 - 29 Sep 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 4205

Abstract

Decades of wars, sanctions, and internal conflicts have compromised Iraq’s health system, which once was the best system in the region. National and international efforts to revitalize the system have been successful to some extent; however, significant challenges still exist. The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed new vulnerabilities and exacerbated the existing ones, affecting the quality and the quantity of the health services delivered. This case study explored the baseline function of Iraq’s health system within the context of the World Health Organization (WHO) health system framework. The paper also examined the country’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic and some of its impacts. Results show that the system was not functioning optimally nor was it prepared to address the immediate impact of the current pandemic and other emerging public health issues. While mitigating the pandemic’s short-term and long-term impacts are essential, it should not divert the focus from restructuring and strengthening the health system. Iraq may need to prioritize the health information system and leadership/governance as they provide the basis for health policies and regulations for all other health system building blocks. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Current Impact and Long-Term Influence of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Global and Public Health, Public Policy and Healthcare Systems: Socio-Economic Aspects – Series of Case Studies)

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17 pages, 1874 KiB

Open AccessArticle

How the COVID-19 Pandemic Alters the Landscapes of the HIV and Tuberculosis Epidemics in South Africa: A Case Study and Future Directions

by Daniel Eike, Maximilia Hogrebe, Dagem Kifle, Miriam Tregilgas, Anshu Uppal and Alexandra Calmy

Epidemiologia 2022, 3(2), 297-313; https://doi.org/10.3390/epidemiologia3020023 - 06 Jun 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 3457

Abstract

South Africa has long grappled with one of the highest HIV and tuberculosis (TB) burdens in the world. The COVID-19 pandemic poses challenges to the country’s already strained health system. Measures to contain COVID-19 virus may have further hampered the containment of HIV and TB in the country and further widened the socioeconomic gap. South Africa’s handling of the pandemic has led to disruptions to HIV/TB testing and treatment. It has, furthermore, influenced social risk factors associated with increased transmission of these diseases. Individuals living with HIV and/or TB also face higher risk of developing severe COVID-19 disease. In this case study, we contextualize the HIV/TB landscape in South Africa and analyze the direct and indirect impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the country’s efforts to combat these ongoing epidemics. Full article

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16 pages, 6961 KiB

Open AccessArticle

COVID-19 and Internet Hospital Development in China

by Yushan Li, Huimin Hu, Liudmila Rozanova and Guilhem Fabre

Epidemiologia 2022, 3(2), 269-284; https://doi.org/10.3390/epidemiologia3020021 - 02 Jun 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2967

Abstract

Since 2018, the access policy for Internet hospitals has been issued in China. So far, thousands of Internet hospitals have been approved to operate and have played a significant role during the COVID-19 pandemic. While front-line hospitals strive to treat patients, Internet hospitals take the responsibility to guide patients to seek appropriate medical treatment and meet the urgent needs of chronic patients through online medical follow-up, payment, and drug distribution. This paper is based on Internet medical policies and interviews with doctors working with Internet hospitals, aiming to study the development of Internet hospitals in China through the management of the COVID-19 outbreak and the Chinese healthcare strategy on the national level. Full article

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19 pages, 1421 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Future Strategic Priorities of the Swiss Decentralized Healthcare System: A COVID-19 Case Study

by Miriam Mi-Rim Lee Burger, Kaitlin Elizabeth Large, Yiqi Liu, Melissa Cigdem Coyle, Cherish Tariro Gamanya and Jean-François Etter

Epidemiologia 2022, 3(2), 250-268; https://doi.org/10.3390/epidemiologia3020020 - 16 May 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 3158

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic exposed a multitude of vulnerabilities in Switzerland’s decentralized healthcare system and highlighted the urgent need to strengthen Switzerland’s capacity to respond to health crises and disease outbreaks. In this article, we draw on three distinct areas of analysis of the current functioning of the Swiss healthcare system to examine its strengths and weaknesses, which can serve as a basis for future considerations and strategic priorities. First, we analyze the different levels of nine non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs), as defined by the ETH KOF Stringency Index and implemented in the Swiss cantons of Zurich, Vaud, and Ticino, compared with the rate of positive COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations, and deaths. We find that there was no strong correlation between the severity of the nine non-pharmaceutical interventions implemented and lower rates of positive COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations, and deaths. Second, we examine the challenges of Switzerland’s decentralized healthcare system through a literature review and with empirical data obtained from semi-structured interviews with health professionals in Switzerland. We conclude our analysis with the role of central authorities during the COVID-19 pandemic. The results demonstrate that during a national emergency in Switzerland, taking into account other factors that influence the success of a pandemic strategy, there is an opportunity for a more unified, centralized response to reduce the social and economic toll of the pandemic without necessarily risking greater health damage. We recommend that the Swiss federal government use a combination of decentralized and centralized public health and policy approaches and promote greater private–public collaboration with direct communication channels among policymakers, public health stakeholders, and the public to improve pandemic preparedness and response. Full article

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19 pages, 1629 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Balancing Public & Economic Health in Japan during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Descriptive Analysis

by Gainha Kim, Justine M. Natuplag, Sui Jin Lin, Jinyi Feng and Nicolas Ray

Epidemiologia 2022, 3(2), 199-217; https://doi.org/10.3390/epidemiologia3020016 - 08 Apr 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 3305

Abstract

Despite loose restrictions and a low mortality rate due to COVID-19, Japan faced the challenge of stabilizing its economy during the pandemic. Here, we analyzed how the Japanese government attempted to maintain a balance between the health of the population and the health of the economy. We used a mix of quantitative data, information from policy documents, and news agency publications. Features of the Japanese government’s handling of the pandemic include the lack of constitutional authority to enforce a lockdown, the laxer restrictions compared with other countries in which citizens were advised only to exercise self-restraint and avoid close social contact, and the existence of expert panels that had only an advisory role. Our findings address the slow initial response of the government, which feared that the 2020 Tokyo Olympics would be canceled, and the increased testing when the Olympics were postponed, as well as the expansion of vaccination efforts after the Olympics. In addition, there was a targeted campaign to promote national travel to increase economic revenue in the tourism sector, but this led to an increase in COVID-19 cases. Full article

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13 pages, 10965 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Trust in the U.S. Government and Its Health Agencies in the Time of COVID-19

by Maraika Geisterfer-Black, Taylor Niemi, Leonie Neier and Victor G. Rodwin

Epidemiologia 2022, 3(2), 148-160; https://doi.org/10.3390/epidemiologia3020012 - 22 Mar 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 3207

Abstract

This article examines the factors affecting Americans’ trust in their federal government and its health agencies during the COVID-19 public health crisis. More specifically, we examine the evolution of Americans’ trust in their government and health system and how, in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic response, it has been affected by multiple factors. Several academic journals, government policy recommendations and public health polls were evaluated to understand the public’s trust in the federal government and its health institutions. Public trust in institutions during a global pandemic is essential in influencing adherence to a pandemic response (both non-pharmaceutical and medical interventions). Americans’ trust in institutions is built and maintained by a variety of factors. We focus on: political polarization and involvement, media influence and health communications, history of systemic racism and socioeconomic inequalities, and pandemic fatigue. Based on the interplay of these factors, we conclude with recommendations for future pandemic response strategies. Full article

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13 pages, 652 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The End of the Elimination Strategy: Decisive Factors towards Sustainable Management of COVID-19 in New Zealand

by Alicia Blair, Mattia de Pasquale, Valentin Gabeff, Mélanie Rufi and Antoine Flahault

Epidemiologia 2022, 3(1), 135-147; https://doi.org/10.3390/epidemiologia3010011 - 18 Mar 2022

Cited by 13 | Viewed by 7098

Abstract

New Zealand has long been praised for the effectiveness of its COVID-19 elimination strategy. It resulted in fewer COVID-19-related deaths, better economic recovery, and less stringent policy measures within its borders compared with other OECD countries, which opted for mitigation or suppression. However, since September 2021, the rising number of infections has not been contained anymore by the contact tracing and self-isolation system in place and the government has shifted towards a policy strategy similar to suppression to manage the crisis. In this case study, we analyse the factors that led the government to switch policy and discuss why elimination became unsustainable to manage the COVID-19 epidemic in New Zealand. Results showed that the socioeconomic and political factors, along with the appearance of new variants and a delayed vaccination program, were accountable for the switch in strategy. This switch allows the country to better adapt to the evolving nature of the disease and to address the social and economic repercussions of the first year of measures. Our conclusion does not disregard elimination as an appropriate initial strategy to contain this pandemic in the absence of a vaccine or treatment, but rather suggests that borders cannot remain closed for long periods of time without creating social, economical, and political issues. Full article

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19 pages, 1535 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Infectious Diseases in Brazil: A Case Study on Dengue Infections

by Federico Borre, Juliette Ildiko Borri, Yuval Zoy Cohen, Mariana Gasparoto and Tsewang Bhumchok Gurung

Epidemiologia 2022, 3(1), 97-115; https://doi.org/10.3390/epidemiologia3010009 - 02 Mar 2022

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 4152

Abstract

Brazil is known for being a breeding ground for emerging infectious diseases (EIDs), such as Zika, dengue, and chikungunya. Given that it has been one of the countries most affected by the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, this article aims to analyze the impact that the COVID-19 pandemic has had on the burden of infectious diseases in Brazil, especially that of dengue. Brazil is a unique territory with a heterogeneous population living in a tropical, wet climate favorable to infectious diseases. In addition, despite being one of the largest emerging economies in the world, the country has been exposed to political instability and a public health system that suffers from large funding shortfalls and a lack of coherent regulation. The findings from this study are multilayered. Firstly, as cases of COVID-19 rose at the start of the pandemic, cases of dengue declined drastically. This may be due, in part, to factors such as seasonal climate and distancing measures. Furthermore, the findings indicate that the diversion of resources away from dengue and other infectious diseases, and mobilization for COVID-19 testing and treatment, likely resulted in a serious underreporting of dengue. While Brazil has incorporated some of the lessons learned from past EID experience in responding to the COVID-19 pandemic, the analysis highlights how the country’s structural problems present pitfalls in the epidemiological fight. It was concluded that in a country such as Brazil, where infectious disease outbreaks are only a matter of time, pandemic preparedness should be prioritized over pandemic response. Full article

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Review

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18 pages, 22586 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperReview

Impact of COVID-19 on Food Security in Ethiopia

by Wenqin Zhang, Léo Persoz, Sandrine Hakiza, Loza Biru and Lemlem Girmatsion

Epidemiologia 2022, 3(2), 161-178; https://doi.org/10.3390/epidemiologia3020013 - 22 Mar 2022

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 5802

Abstract

Since the outbreak of COVID-19, its effects on different aspects of life have been subject to much research, including food security, a domain that has been of special concern in many low-income countries. Ethiopia has been facing many challenges related to food security for decades via drought, famine, and conflict. Within this context, this case study assessed the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on food security in Ethiopia. Results show that the ongoing pandemic has negatively impacted different regions and at-risk groups in a heterogeneous manner. This has been mainly through disruptions in the Ethiopian food value chain and the relative failure of social security programmes to address the losses generated by COVID-19. The population in the capital city, Addis Ababa, was able to maintain the same level of food security despite income losses caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. However, at-risk groups such as refugees, internally displaced persons (IDPs), and conflict affected regions were seen to suffer significantly from food insecurity exacerbated by COVID-19. Furthermore, this paper particularly emphasizes the importance of considering contextual factors other than COVID-19, such as conflicts or climate change, when discussing the state of food security in Ethiopia. Full article

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Current Impact and Long-Term Influence of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Global and Public Health, Public Policy and Healthcare Systems: Socio-Economic Aspects – Series of Case Studies

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