COVID-19 in Pakistan: Challenges and priorities

Abstract

has big health issues which affect worldwide beyond their borders, race, and ethnicity. All the countries faced this pandemic challenge but most of the underdeveloped countries are facing more dangerous situations due to limited financial and health infrastructure to respond against it. Overall, more than 100 million people are affected by the Novel Virus which results in 2.15 million people dying within a small interval of time. The current pandemic has brought unpredicted challenges to societies and also threatened humanity and global resilience. According to the National Command Operation Center, Pakistan, more than 0.534 million people are suffering with COVID-19 with more than 11 thousand deaths across the country. The Government of Pakistan has taken different initiatives like complete and smart lockdown to control the pandemic as much as possible. After the removal of the first lockdown, the high peak was observed across the country and created a panic situation among people and the government again closed all the educational and religious institutions with immediate effect to tackle the second wave of pandemic. Further, the interconnected nature of COVID-19 crises demands an integrated approach and coordination between all stakeholders to handle the pandemic in a significant way. Identifying the best set of policies and guidelines to handle COVID-19 challenges, and align them for the sustainable recovery from pandemic. The basic challenge facing the policy makers of underdeveloped countries is how to utilize limited resources to achieve interconnected goals for managing health recovery, economic crises, and creating environmental sustainability. We present a framework for identifying and prioritizing policy action to address COVID-19 and ensure sustainable recovery. The framework outlines principles and criteria, and shared policy goals, identifying smart strategies, accessing policy compatibility, aligning policy instruments and improving sustainability in short and long term policy decisions. This framework can be helpful for policy ABOUT THE AUTHORS

Evaluation of Core Coordination Strategies and Concept of Operations implemented during activation of Public Health Emergency Operations Center for COVID-19 Response in Pakistan

“…Studies have demonstrated that nancial and logistics challenges have also been observed for many of the departments and sectors engaged in COIVD-19 response (18) (19). Most of the organizations were not having dedicated funds to support day to day COVID-19 response activities (including testing, surge staff and deployment, quarantine, door to door vaccination etc) (20). For immediate nature of tasks, NCOC has coordinated with national and international developmental partners for logistic support from centralized location (11).…”

Pakistan Preparedness and Response in Alleviating Covid Catastrophe

“…Although Pakistan's economy per-formed well amid the Covid-19 outbreak resulting in a 3.94 percent economic growth rate during the fiscal year (20) But to keep such indicators persistent would remain an uphill task. Hence, it is inevitable that the policymakers and top brass management of the country should keep a comprehensive plan to avoid any further burden on the already frail health system of the country (21). Further, as no country can be insulated by the virus, therefore the world may need to come up with a global strategy to combat the pandemic and the threats posed by it.…”

Modeling Key Strategies for Reducing Socio-Economic and Health Crisis: Perspective from COVID-19 Pandemic

“…Pakistan also faces severe challenges to beat COVID-19 because of bad governance system and weak financial position [ 3 ]. One of the most powerful tools for solving such a critical condition is the selection of suitable policy measures [ 36 ].…”