Time distribution of cumulative incidence of COVID‑19 per country. Access our COVID‑19 OECD Health System Response Tracker to learn more about the latest in OECD countries' responses to the COVID‑19 pandemic.įigure 2.
Four key measures health systems are putting in place in response to the epidemic are considered: 1) ensuring access of the vulnerable to diagnostics and treatment 2) strengthening and optimising health system capacity to respond to the rapid increase in caseloads 3) how to leverage digital solutions and data to improve surveillance and care and 4) how to improve R&D for accelerated development of diagnostics, treatments and vaccines. The main focus of this brief is on the policies aimed at providing effective care and managing the pressure on health systems. However, beyond containment, additional measures – operational, financial, and R&D – are needed to provide effective patient care and reduce the pressure on health systems to manageable levels. Containing and mitigating the spread and infection rate of the coronavirus SARS‑CoV‑2 is the first priority of public health authorities to distribute the number of infections over time and, if possible, reduce the incidence of the disease it causes (COVID‑19).
Health systems are facing the most serious global pandemic crisis in a century.