Deciphering the COVID-19 Health Economic Dilemma (HED): A Scoping Review

Abstract

Lessons learnt from the initial stages of the COVID-19 outbreak indicate the need for a more coordinated economic and public health response. While social distancing has been shown to be effective as a non-pharmaceutical intervention (NPI) measure to mitigate the spread of COVID-19, the economic costs have been substantial. Insights combining epidemiological and economic data provide new theoretical predictions that can be used to better understand the health economy tradeoffs. This literature review aims to elucidate perspectives to assist policy implementation related to the management of the ongoing and impending outbreaks regarding the Health Economic Dilemma (HED). This review unveiled the need for information-based decision-support systems which will combine pandemic spread modelling and control, with economic models. It is expected that the current review will not only support policy makers but will also provide researchers on the development of related decision-support-systems with comprehensive information on the various aspects of the HED.

Lockdown Efficacy in Controlling the Spread of COVID-19 May Be Waning Due to Decline in Public Compliance, Especially among Unvaccinated Individuals: A Cross-Sectional Study in Israel

“…The novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak originated from Wuhan, Hubei, China in December 2019, and has had a significant impact on the global community by disturbing health, economic, societal, and political systems worldwide, resulting in substantial morbidity and mortality [1]. In an effort to contain the spread of the disease, numerous recommendations for public health safety were issued by the World Health Organization (WHO), including using facial coverings (e.g., masks), maintaining social/physical distance between people (e.g., restriction of gatherings), calls for increased personal hygiene, etc.…”

The Covid-19 Pandemic. Controversies and Measures Proposed to Reduce the Impact of Future Pandemics

“…In conclusion For national and international organisation responsible for public health, and for politic and economic decision-makers, the COVID-19 crisis represented a challenge, but also an opportunity to identify ways to mobilize resources and stimulate domestic and international cooperation. As the authorities tried to find solutions to protect the population, to identify and control outbreaks, the territory of uncertainty expanded), lack of knowledge and resources went hand in hand with misinformation and panic, politicization and rejection of science (Tandoc & Lee, 2020;Kaim et al, 2021). Public health gradually became a priority area of political and community decisions, with a massive impact on social life and individual habits, with a possible long-term impact (Mofijur et al, 2021, Oldekop et al, 2020Shadmi et al, 2020).…”

“…Many researchers have pointed out that the reality of COVID-19 has highlighted social inequities, the vulnerability of certain segments of the population, the inefficiency of international cooperation and even the selfishness of human nature. The global economic recession, accentuated budget deficits, depletion of resources, economic volatility, major shocks on the stock market, the increase in the global level of poverty and unemployment, the difficulties of global supply chains are major effects of the economy in recent years (Kaim, 2021), which have their main source in the COVID-19 crisis.…”

Complex network-based research on organization collaboration and cooperation governance responding to COVID-19

“…The coronavirus disease 2019 , an acute respiratory infectious pandemic which first broke out on a large scale in early 2020, has been spreading continuously and caused 239,007,759 confirmed cases (including 4,871,841 deaths) in over 220 countries and regions by 14th Oct 2021 (World Health Organization, 2021). Lessons learnt from undesirable, catastrophic and interminable impacts on every part of the society set out the need for a more coordinated economic and public health response (Kaim et al, 2021). Social coordination since the outbreak would contribute to minimize governance dilemma (Huang, 2021).…”