Impact of COVID- 19 on continuity of essential health services in various health care institutions in district Amritsar, Punjab, India

Abstract

From a point in time where the human race declared itself the master of the universe to this point in time where it is facing an existential threat from the contagion- Covid 19 pandemic has exposed the vulnerability of the human race to a wipeout. The disruption of physical, mental, social, emotional and financial health and health systems is unprecedented. Study the impact of Covid 19 on continuity of essential health services in various health care institutions in district Amritsar, Punjab.: Online survey was conducted through google forms using questionnaire adapted from the World Health Organization-Pulse Survey on Continuity of Essential Health Services during Covid 19 pandemic. Respondents were personnel working at public and Ayushman Bharat empaneled private health care institutions. Response rate was 60% (55 out of 92 health care institutions personnel responded) A highly significant difference was observed between the public and the private health care sector in provision of antenatal care (Mann Whitney U statistic= 78.00, p=.004) and imaging and radio diagnosing services (Mann Whitney U statistic= 48.00, p=.000) while a significant difference was observed in provision of service of institutional delivery (Mann Whitney U statistic= 112.00, p=.046). All the other essential health services were similarly affected in the public and private health sector institutes. Financial difficulties faced during the lockdown was the single most common reason stated for disruption of essential health services. There was a significant difference in level of satisfaction experienced by health care personnel from public and private sector (Mann Whitney U statistic= 94.00, p=.02). Thematic analysis of the data on improving preparedness to minimize disruption in essential health services yielded the themes pertaining to creating a robust public health care infrastructure including use of e-health technology in the district and recruitment of adequate health care man power according to set norms.