COVID-19 gives the lie to global health expertise

Neither country has widespread testing available, as strongly recommended by WHO, alongside treatment and robust contact tracing.1 In neither country do health workers have adequate access to personal protective equipment; nor are there nearly enough hospital beds to accommodate the onslaught of pat...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:	The Lancet 2020-04, Vol.395 (10231), p.1189-1189
Main Author:	Dalglish, Sarah L
Format:	Article
Language:	eng
Subjects:	Betacoronavirus Civil Defense - organization & administration Contact tracing Coronavirus Infections - diagnosis Coronavirus Infections - prevention & control Coronaviruses Correspondence COVID-19 Developed Countries Disaster relief Disease transmission Epidemics Global Health Humans Medical personnel Medical supplies Pandemics Pandemics - prevention & control Pneumonia, Viral - diagnosis Pneumonia, Viral - prevention & control Professional Competence - standards Protective equipment Public health Respiratory diseases SARS-CoV-2 Severe acute respiratory syndrome Viral diseases
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Summary:	Neither country has widespread testing available, as strongly recommended by WHO, alongside treatment and robust contact tracing.1 In neither country do health workers have adequate access to personal protective equipment; nor are there nearly enough hospital beds to accommodate the onslaught of patients. Even worse, by refusing to ease sanctions against Iran, Venezuela, and Cuba, the US has crippled the ability of other countries to respond, continuing to block medical supplies and other humanitarian aid.2 Meanwhile, Asian countries, including China, South Korea, Singapore, and Taiwan, have provided rapid, effective, and often innovative responses, thanks in part to their recent experience with outbreaks of Middle East respiratory syndrome in 2015 and the 2002–03 severe acute respiratory syndrome epidemic. The global health model is based in large part on technical assistance and capacity building by the US, the UK, and other rich countries, whose response has been sclerotic and delayed at best.
ISSN:	0140-6736 1474-547X