Effect of COVID-19 on Patient Access to Health Services in Latin America: A Key Informant Survey

Abstract

BackgroundCOVID-19 has been felt acutely in Latin America with several countries having among the highest numbers of COVID-19 cases and deaths. The purpose of this study was to assess the effects of COVID-19 on access to health services in Latin America, as reported by patient advocacy organizations representing autoimmune, chronic, and noncommunicable diseases.MethodsIn August 2020, we conducted an online key informant survey in Spanish and Portuguese among patient advocacy organizations in 18 countries in Latin America. Univariate and bivariate analysis was conducted across two main subject areas: perceived patient effects from COVID-19 and patient access to health services. The main outcomes of analysis considered patient access to care during COVID-19 based on type of chronic illness and geographical region in Latin America.ResultsA total of 81 survey responses were analyzed. A majority (83%) of patient advocacy organizations reported their patients experienced delays receiving their treatment and care services; 52% experienced delays of 30 days or more. Telemedicine was considered available, but not accessible to patients (37%) and a majority (76%) of patients faced challenges with electronic prescriptions. Patients were not likely to receive a multi-month prescription from their doctor (38%) or successfully fill it at the pharmacy (26%).ConclusionsPeople living with noncommunicable diseases in Latin America have been seriously impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. As countries re-evaluate their health systems, it is critical that chronic diseases are considered so that all can fully realize the right to health.

Telemedicina no acesso à saúde durante a pandemia de covid-19: uma revisão de escopo

“… Canada Describe the use and satisfaction of providers and lung transplant (LTx) candidates and recipients and functional outcomes after the widespread implementation of telerehabilitation with remote patient monitoring during the first wave of the covid-19 pandemic. Effect of COVID-19 on Patient Access to HealthServices in Latin America: A Key Informant Survey 30 2021 Kruse, M. H., Durstine, A. and Evans D.P. Latin America Analyze the effects of the pandemic on access to health services for chronic patients through associations that defend patients’ rights.…”

“…We identified other results related to the use of telemedicine in the healthcare of chronic patients, such as the improvement of indicators 33 decrease in complications 36 , increased patient receptivity 29 , video consultations with concrete clinical recommendations / medicine change 34 and identification of benefits in pre-and postoperative care 35 . On the other hand, there were unfavorable results regarding the use of telemedicine, such as the identification of patients’ inability to use 26 , lower patient engagement 29 , problems with emotional responses and approach to complex issues 29 and access difficulty, including to electronically prescribed medicines 30 .…”

“…The technological arrangements of care identified as assistance are those invented, adapted or used for the care performed by the health professional or the care chain, through digital technologies. In this sense, it is possible to list prescriptions online 30 , 31 , 36 , use telemedicine for comprehensive patient care 28 , including pre-and postoperative care 37 , acting in the regulation and management of complex cases 31 , adoption of detailed pre-consultation protocols 28 and hybrid care protocols, including face-to-face and online consultations, when necessary 23 , 26 , and the service performed by multiprofessional team 25 .…”

“… Canadá Descrever o uso e a satisfação de provedores e candidatos e receptores de transplante de pulmão (LTx) e os resultados funcionais após a ampla implementação da telerreabilitação com monitoramento remoto de pacientes durante a primeira onda da pandemia de covid-19. Effect of COVID-19 on Patient Access to HealthServices in Latin America: A Key Informant Survey 30 2021 Kruse, M. H., Durstine, A. and Evans D.P. América Latina Analisar os efeitos da pandemia no acesso aos serviços de saúde para pacientes crônicos através de associações de defesa dos direitos dos pacientes.…”

“…Todos os artigos foram publicados em inglês, diferindo na distribuição geográfica: n = 10 dos artigos foram produzidos nos Estados Unidos 20 e n = 1 foi estudo feito na região da América Latina 30 . Já o Sudeste Asiático foi citado em n = 1 estudo 31 , e Itália 32 , Reino Unido 33 , Alemanha 34 , Canadá 35 e Peru 36 também contribuíram com n = 1 artigo cada.…”