Disparities in European healthcare system approaches to maintaining continuity of medication for non-communicable diseases during the COVID-19 outbreak
Przemysław Kardas, Job F. M. van Boven, Hilary Pinnock, Enrica Menditto, Björn Wettermark, Ioanna Tsiligianni, Tamás Ágh
Abstract
COVID-19 was declared a global pandemic on March 11 2020, with dramatic consequences on the way we live. The rigours of lockdown and physical distancing posed major challenges to society, and specifically to healthcare systems. In the initial focus on acute COVID-19 treatment, management of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) was severely scaled down, and patients suffering from NCDs were given low priority. Appointments were postponed or cancelled due to re-allocation of healthcare personnel to tasks related to managing COVID-19.
Topics & Concepts
OutbreakCoronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)Communicable disease2019-20 coronavirus outbreakMedicineHealthcare systemContinuity of careHealth careSevere acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)Environmental healthVirologyPublic healthPolitical scienceNursingDiseaseInternal medicineInfectious disease (medical specialty)LawCOVID-19 and healthcare impactsHealthcare Systems and ChallengesHealth Systems, Economic Evaluations, Quality of Life