Health Security in a Post-COVID World: Lessons from a Global Health Crisis

By The Centre for Non-Traditional Security Studies (NTS Centre)
S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS)
Nanyang Technological University (NTU), Singapore

THE ONGOING COVID-19 pandemic has created unprecedented change for global society. As we witnessed throughout 2020, the pandemic brutally exposed gaps and frailties in the global health system. For instance, the disruption of supply chains and sudden spike in coronavirus cases during the initial stages of the crisis led to a scarcity of essential medical equipment such as ventilators and medical-grade oxygen. Overstretched bed capacity and staff also meant that many COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 patients were not getting the treatments they needed.

While the world spends approximately US$7.5 trillion each year on health, we have yet to plug large public health gaps in rural and conflict-stricken areas. Lack of access to healthcare services and poor infrastructure are major issues that vulnerable populations living in these areas face. A World Health Organisation report indicates that based on current trends, universal health coverage will still not be achievable by 2030. If anything, this pandemic has provided a clarion call for significant improvements in the way societies and governments approach public health. Current policies and practices need to be relooked, and if necessary, revamped.

This global health crisis calls attention to the need for clearer division of labour and well-defined responsibilities during pandemic responses. This is evident when we look at the experiences of some Southeast Asian states such as Singapore, Vietnam and Thailand which have had relatively more success in containing the virus as compared to many other countries. The governments from these countries were quick to implement strict containment measures and enforce the mandatory use of masks. They also carried out rigorous contact tracing and quarantine measures to prevent the spread of the virus within their borders. While there is no perfect system of governance, it cannot be denied that a swift and decisive response is needed in the event of any disease outbreak.

The building up of resilient health systems is essential not just for coping with the current coronavirus pandemic; it also acts as a bulwark against other types of diseases that people face daily. There is a need to invest in strong primary health care, with increased emphasis on health promotion and disease prevention. While curative care should not be neglected, preventive-centred initiatives and systems can help to increase the efficiency of health spending by targeting the root causes of disease outbreaks.

Increased engagement with new or emerging technologies can also improve the robustness of healthcare systems. For instance, the use of telemedicine could be a way to link patients with medical personnel without the need for travel or physical contact. While this is not a new practice in the healthcare industry, it has gained more attention in recent times due to social distancing measures arising from the COVID-19 pandemic. It allows for more access and helps to amplify the capacity of healthcare professionals. 2020 has been a huge training ground for people in the use of digital technology; the future of healthcare seems to be headed in this direction as well.

It is important to note that spending on improving healthcare infrastructure alone will not be sufficient. Resources also need to be allocated to public initiatives, which can help to raise public awareness of infectious disease outbreaks. This can include educating the public on good hygiene practices, the need for social distancing during an outbreak, as well as how to avoid succumbing to pandemic misinformation. Particularly with the rollout of the vaccine, the need to curb misinformation becomes even more pressing. Governments should provide citizens with accurate updates from trusted sources in a timely and transparent manner. This will go a long way in convincing the public of both the efficacy and safety of the vaccine.

The sheer scale and impact of COVID-19 might be the impetus needed to spur reform in the healthcare sector and push the world towards achieving its goal of universal health coverage. As we attempt to navigate this ‘new’ world, the need to innovate and adapt takes on paramount significance.