Research shows global health systems are not prepared for another pandemic

In a survey commissioned by the World Health Innovation Summit for Health (WISH), 49% of healthcare workers stated current health systems are lacking preparation for managing another emergency.   

An international survey to analyse the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic has been conducted on health care workers and revealed health systems are not prepared for another medical emergency.  

Reasons for why the medical sector won’t cope include current pressures within the NHS, such as poor funding and staff shortages.

Healthcare professionals that were surveyed, including people from the UK, US, India, Saudi Arabia, Nigeria and Brazil all agree that the lack of preparation is one of the biggest threats the industry faces.  

The survey was commissioned by WISH, the global health initiative of Qatar Foundation and was conducted by YouGov.  

The research investigated health care workers feelings about their workplace and profession and found 60% of healthcare professionals lacked financial support and 55% commenting on staff shortages as other major risk factors for health systems efficiency.   

44% also stated an inability to support patients which additionally poses a threat to national healthcare systems.    

Sultana Afdhal, CEO of WISH, said: ‘Our findings spotlight some of the critical challenges that the Covid-19 pandemic has forced upon us over the last two years.    

‘As an advocate for a healthier world through global collaboration, we urge governments, industry leaders and policymakers to take these insights and work towards building next-generation health systems that are better equipped to meet similar challenges in the future.  

‘The pandemic has strained health systems to create urgent response measures such as increasing capacity, enhancing infection control, moving to remote models of care, and enabling mass vaccination, among others.  

‘There is a need to take stock of the challenges and for enablers to respond at a national level, as well as create opportunities for accelerating the sharing of strategies internationally.     

Photo by Kai Pilger