Evaluation of the COVID-19 response in Spain: principles and requirements
Alberto L. García‐Basteiro, Helena Legido‐Quigley, Carlos Álvarez‐Dardet, Àlex Arenas, Rafael Bengoa, Carme Borrell, Margarita Del Val, Manuel Franco, Montserrat Gea‐Sánchez, Juan Gestal, Beatríz González López-Valcarcel, Ildefonso Hernández‐Aguado, Joan Carles March, José M. Martin‐Moreno, Clara Menéndez, Sergio Minué, Carles Muntaner, Miquel Porta, Daniel Prieto‐Alhambra, Carmen Vives‐Cases, Alberto L. García‐Basteiro, Helena Legido‐Quigley
Abstract
A resurgence of COVID-19 infections is occurring in Spain, with some of the worst figures in Europe.1, 2 In August, 2020, we urged the Spanish Central Government and regional governments to independently evaluate their COVID-19 response to identify areas where public health and the health and social care system need to be improved.3 \nAlthough we received widespread support from more than 50 scientific societies and associations representing public health, medical, and nursing professional communities; there is now a need to define such an evaluation in terms of its timing, scope, and leadership. Here, we suggest three major requisites and four guiding principles, adapted from McKee and colleagues,4 which we believe would ensure a successful independent evaluation.