The World Health Organization (WHO) pronounced COVID-19 as an international level public health crisis last January 30th, 2020. Furthermore, there were 212,616 confirmed cases around the world by March 18th, 2020. With the growing number of COVID-19 patients and fatalities, many individuals are worried about how they can access healthcare services.

Moreover, with the imposed home quarantine in hopes of slowing down the spread of the virus, it can be difficult to access healthcare, especially for those under remedial care. Amidst this growing concern for public health and safety, how is the government responding to this evolving public health emergency with regards to health care services?

Health Care Services Operations

Healthcare services refer to any remedial or clinical service or care and is a significant unit of the public service department. Health service sectors are in charge of the general well-being and health of the place they aid. Furthermore, these sectors also offer care and treatment to individuals with no available healthcare, especially during a virus outbreak like COVID-19.

Unfortunately, due to the emergence of this pandemic, the health sector is undeniably overwhelmed. Amidst this health crisis, the government is expected to make substantial choices to adjust to the need and counter COVID-19. Countries are expected to arrange coordinated actions and strategic planning to maintain vital health services operations and moderate the danger of a national breakdown.

At the beginning of the pandemic, the Center for Disease Control (CDC) suggested that healthcare services make emergency in-person visits their top priority. They also recommend delaying elective care to alleviate the spread of infection in healthcare settings.

As the pandemic carries on, healthcare systems need to adjust to the need for essential services while lessening the risk of infection. However, the impact of COVID-19 differs among communities.

Thus, healthcare frameworks need to take into account the level of COVID-19 transmission in the community when deciding the arrangement of clinical services. The government has already issued various guidelines and countermeasures to slow the spread of the virus while keeping healthcare services up and running.

Hand Hygiene Improvement

The World Health Organization suggests that states should give general access to public hand hygiene stations. The use of these stations is made compulsory when entering and leaving any private or public buildings or transport facilities. It is also prescribed that healthcare offices improve their facility’s access to hand hygiene.

Hand Hygiene is one of the best methods to slow the spread of viruses and prevent diseases, including COVID-19. “SAVE LIVES: Clean Your Hands.” WHO’s worldwide hand hygiene movement aims to advance hand hygiene measures to counter the spread of COVID-19.

Essential Clinical Supplies Requirement

The Essential Supplies Forecasting Tool (ESFT) is a device made by WHO to counter COVID-19. It is intended to support governments, medical practitioners, and different stakeholders in evaluating likely requirements for vital supplies in response to the current pandemic. Although it gives an estimation of the number of infections, this calculator isn’t made for epidemiological purposes.

The primary use of this apparatus is to predict vital supplies people might need. It incorporates the estimation of diagnostic equipment, personal protective gear, biomedical devices for case management, consumable clinical supplies, and crucial drugs for remedial care.

With the increasing need for clinical supplies, a lot of individuals have brought it upon themselves to purchase medical equipment. Whether it is for personal or public use, many companies providing supplies, such as the Remington Medical clinic supplies, are helping address the demand for these necessary resources.

Public Health and Social Measures

Necessary measures for COVID-19 control and prevention in higher resource communities are hard to implement in lower resource communities. Moreover, these measures can potentially risk the survival of numerous members of the community. Social measures and public health in lower resource communities should be adjusted against different dangers influencing their communities.

Thus, measures taken amidst the pandemic should take into account access to primary services, food insecurity, and lack of income. Moreover, measures should also be practical and support the local systems’ strengths, primarily through social preparation and solid community effort.

Utilization of Telehealth Technology

Adjustments in the method of how health services are provided amidst this pandemic are vital. These changes aim to decrease personnel exposure to sick individuals, reserve personal protective equipment, and limit overcrowding of patients in facilities.

Healthcare services are given no choice but to change how they function so that they won’t rely on in-person visits. Thus, Telehealth services aim to provide vital care to individuals while limiting the transmission of the virus. Telehealth is an effective way to provide primary, chronic, acute, and specialty care to non-COVID-19 patients.

Takeaway

There is an undeniable escalating need for health services amidst the COVID-19 and pressure to slow down the spread of the virus. Moreover, the effects of this pandemic are proving to be more of a challenge to the health sectors around the globe. Fortunately, the government is trying its best to organize coordinated measures across the country. These measures aim to help communities across the nation gain access to vital healthcare services.