Thread by @WHO

Over one year into the #COVID19 pandemic, about 9⃣0⃣% of countries surveyed still report one or more disruptions to essential health services. Major efforts are required to restore and strengthen services in all countries.

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WHO’s “Pulse Survey” reveals that the magnitude & extent of disruptions has generally ↘️:
In the first 3 months of 2021 countries reported progress, with just over 1/3 of essential health services now being disrupted, compared to half in 2020.

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Countries mitigated disruptions by:
🔸Increasing public communications
🔸Triaging by most urgent patient needs
🔸Recruiting staff
🔸Alternative care delivery methods
🔸Telemedicine
🔸Multi-month prescriptions
🔸Redirecting patients to other care facilities
bit.ly/32FX42j

Countries still have to make important decisions when responding to #COVID19 that may negatively affect access to care for other health issues. Redeployment of healthworkers to provide COVID-19 relief & temporary closures of health facilities & services continue.

Although they may have taken on new staff, 66% of countries continue to report health workforce-related reasons as the most common causes of service disruptions. Due to #COVID19, supply chains are also still disrupted in nearly 1/3 of countries.

bit.ly/32FX42j

Health service disruptions mean millions of people are still missing out on vital health care during #COVID19.
Nearly half of countries report negative impacts on provision of day-to-day primary care to prevent & manage some of the most common health problems.

WHO and its partners have been helping countries to adapt their processes so they can:
✅ better respond to the challenges being placed on their health systems during #COVID19
✅ strengthen primary health care
✅ advance universal health coverage

https://twitter.com/WHO/status/1385562765100781572?s=20