Health security capacities in the context of COVID-19 outbreak: an analysis of International Health Regulations annual report data from 182 countries

Abstract

Background Public health measures to prevent, detect, and respond to events are essential to control public health risks, including infectious disease outbreaks, as highlighted in the International Health Regulations (IHR). In light of the outbreak of 2019 novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19), we aimed to review existing health security capacities against public health risks and events. MethodsWe used 18 indicators from the IHR State Party Annual Reporting (SPAR) tool and associated data from national SPAR reports to develop five indices: (1) prevent, (2) detect, (3) respond, (4) enabling function, and (5) operational readiness. We used SPAR 2018 data for all of the indicators and categorised countries into five levels across the indices, in which level 1 indicated the lowest level of national capacity and level 5 the highest. We also analysed data at the regional level (using the six geographical WHO regions).Findings Of 182 countries, 52 (28%) had prevent capacities at levels 1 or 2, and 60 (33%) had response capacities at levels 1 or 2. 81 (45%) countries had prevent capacities and 78 (43%) had response capacities at levels 4 or 5, indicating that these countries were operationally ready. (76%) countries scored more highly in the detect index than in the other indices. 44 (24%) countries did not have an effective enabling function for public health risks and events, including infectious disease outbreaks (7 [4%] at level 1 and 37 [20%] at level 2). 102 (56%) countries had level 4 or level 5 enabling function capacities in place. 32 (18%) countries had low readiness (2 [1%] at level 1 and 30 [17%] at level 2), and 104 (57%) countries were operationally ready to prevent, detect, and control an outbreak of a novel infectious disease (66 [36%] at level 4 and 38 [21%] at level 5).Interpretation Countries vary widely in terms of their capacity to prevent, detect, and respond to outbreaks. Half of all countries analysed have strong operational readiness capacities in place, which suggests that an effective response to potential health emergencies could be enabled, including to COVID-19. Findings from local risk assessments are needed to fully understand national readiness capacities in relation to COVID-19. Capacity building and collaboration between countries are needed to strengthen global readiness for outbreak control.

COVID-19 no estado do Ceará, Brasil: comportamentos e crenças na chegada da pandemia

“…A study with 182 countries found that 33% had low capacity to respond to a public health event, and 24% had little available functional capacity, even with the support of funds coming from elsewhere. These events include infectious diseases 30 . In this study, females believed to have a high risk of infection by coronavirus (Table 1), which is explained due to the greater sense of self-care among women 31 .…”

Preparedness is Essential for Western Pacific Islands During the COVID-19 Pandemic

“…8 Compared with developed areas, countries or territories in the Western Pacific Region have insufficient health-care resources, and relatively low detection and prevention capacity. 4 Although these countries or territories have just a few confirmed infected people, without adequate control and preparedness, large-scale community transmission of COVID-19 is likely to occur. Fortunately, countries such as Fiji have already started to monitor high-risk persons and strengthen the management of international borders.…”

Increased Detection coupled with Social Distancing and Health Capacity Planning Reduce the Burden of COVID-19 Cases and Fatalities: A Proof of Concept Study using a Stochastic Computational Simulation Model

“…In this case the number of exposure events at the on 28 th April was considered to be 2.5 considering the prolonged duration of awareness and practice on Social distancing. 4. The fourth intervention was to release lock-down for 1 week after 14 th April for 7 days and then again continue it for another 21 days till 12 th May, 2020 with a similar increase in bed capacity as mentioned earlier.…”

“…13.8% progress to severe disease and 6.1% become critically ill with respiratory failure, septic shock or multi-organ failure [1]. However, detection and response capacity of COVID-19 cases globally vary across all countries [4]. In a country like India with a varied administrative set-up and state policies, healthcare amenities vary even further [5].…”