A systematic assessment on COVID‐19 preparedness and transition strategy in Bangladesh

Abstract

Rationale, aims, and objectives: The COVID-19 pandemic of 2020 has overpowered the most advanced health systems worldwide with thousands of daily deaths. The current study conducted a situation analysis on the pandemic preparedness of Bangladesh and provided recommendations on the transition to the new reality and gradual restoration of normalcy. Method: A complex adaptive system (CAS) framework was theorized based on four structural dimensions obtained from the crisis and complexity theory to help evaluate the health system of Bangladesh. Data sourced from published reports from the government, non-governmental organizations, and mainstream media up to June 15, 2020 were used to conduct a qualitative analysis and visualize the spatial distribution of countrywide COVID-19 cases. Results: The findings suggested that Bangladesh severely lacked the preparedness to tackle the spread of COVID-19 with both short-and long-term implications for health, the economy, and good governance. Absence of planning and coordination, disproportionate resource allocations, challenged infrastructure, adherence to bureaucratic delay, lack of synchronized risk communication, failing leadership of concerned authorities, and incoherent decision-making have led to a precarious situation that will have dire ramifications causing many uncertainties in the coming days. Conclusions: Implementation of response protocols addressing the needs of the community and the stakeholders from the central level is urgently needed. The development of mechanisms for dynamic decision-making based on regular feedback and long-term planning for a smooth transition between the new reality and normalcy should also be urgently addressed in Bangladesh.

COVID-19 Vaccination Intent and Willingness to Pay in Bangladesh: A Cross-Sectional Study

“…With inept and inadequate healthcare systems, Bangladesh has been attempting to contain the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic since March 2020 [ 21 ]. Bangladesh severely lacked the preparedness to tackle the spread of COVID-19 [ 22 ], and the country’s COVID-19 testing system has also been criticized at a global level [ 5 ]. However, Bangladesh has experience of running successful immunization programs for children.…”

Population-Level Preparedness About Preventive Practices Against Coronavirus Disease 2019: A Cross-Sectional Study Among Adults in Bangladesh

“…A study conducted in Bangladesh shows that the country severely lacked the pandemic preparedness in its health and governance system. This study reported that lack of preparedness due to the “absence of planning and coordination, disproportionate resource allocations, challenged infrastructure, adherence to bureaucratic delay, lack of synchronized risk communication, failing leadership of concerned authorities, and incoherent decision-making” ( 14 ) had increased the country's epidemiologic vulnerability. However, no study was conducted to assess preparedness against the COVID-19 in Bangladesh at the individual and household levels, though research conducted elsewhere found that preparedness plays a significant role in adopting preventive practices ( 15 ).…”

Underreporting COVID-19: the curious case of the Indian subcontinent

“…For example, countries such as China and Bangladesh, have changed the definition of confirmed cases or recoveries during the on-going pandemic [6, 7]. Moreover, leadership and political goodwill during such crisis play a crucial role in data collection, testing quality and country-wide coverage [8].…”