Ready for the Next Crisis? Investing in Health System Resilience
The COVID-19 pandemic had massive consequences for societies and health systems across the OECD and beyond. Health systems were not resilient enough. Resilient health systems plan and are ready for shocks, such as pandemics, economic crises or the effects of climate change. They are able to minimise the negative consequences of crises, recover as quickly as possible, and adapt to become better performing and more prepared. Smart, targeted investments in health system resilience are needed to improve health and ensure the next shock is less disruptive and costly. This report reviews the lessons of the COVID-19 pandemic and applies them to build policy recommendations to ensure the global community is ready for the next crisis. The reviews and recommendations cover health system issues – including workforce, digitalisation, continuity of care and mental health – and other topics, including long-term care, supply chains and international co-operation.
Managing elective care and waiting times
This chapter reviews the impact of the COVID‑19 pandemic on access to elective (non-urgent) care and waiting times. In many OECD countries, waiting times for elective care were already on the rise before the pandemic, indicating that supply was not keeping-up with demand. The pandemic exacerbated the backlog for elective procedures as most OECD countries suspended non-urgent care to divert efforts towards COVID‑19 patients and avoid other patients being infected. Recovery of these “missing” volumes and the impact on waiting times differed across OECD countries, reflecting differences in the effectiveness of containment measures, the speed at which elective care resumed, the pre‑existing capacity of health workers and equipment, and the ability to mobilise additional resources to increase activity. Addressing the backlog in elective procedures calls for activity-based financing, boosting the supply of health workers, and better management and monitoring of waiting lists. The chapter concludes with policy recommendations to tackle waiting times for elective care.
- Click to access:
-
Click to download PDF - 1.32MBPDF