Tackling population health challenges as we build back from the pandemic
Gerry McCartney, Margaret Douglas, Martin Taulbut, S Vittal Katikireddi, Martin McKee
Abstract
No amount of positive spin can detract from the numbers. The UK has not done well in the pandemic, whether measured in terms of mortality, 1 economic performance, 2 or social protection. This should not have happened. In 2019, the UK came in second place in the Global Health Security Index. 3 Yet, when the pandemic arrived, decision making was confused and slow, 4 existing structures were sidelined, and new ones, exemplified by the "eye wateringly expensive" test and trace system, 5 were flawed by design, paying inadequate attention to the needs of those isolating. Weak social safety nets offered little support.
Topics & Concepts
PandemicCoronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)Population2019-20 coronavirus outbreakSocial securityPolitical scienceSevere acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)Test (biology)Economic growthPublic relationsTRACE (psycholinguistics)Global healthHealth securityPopulation healthPublic healthSocial determinants of healthMedicineMEDLINEWorld populationDevelopment economicsBusinessCoronavirus InfectionsEnvironmental healthHealth careComputer scienceZoonotic diseases and public healthPublic Health Policies and EducationGlobal Public Health Policies and Epidemiology