The COVID-19 pandemic underscores the need for an equity-focused global health agenda

Abstract

Over the past few months, COVID-19 has ravaged health systems and economies in countries across the world. While many would argue that a pandemic of respiratory disease was predictable, the systematic failures of the response came as a surprise. From the shortage of hospital beds and medical equipment to the gross insufficiencies in national surveillance systems, supply chains and laboratory capacity, COVID-19 has laid bare the health care limitations that ‘global north’ and ‘global south’ share. A stark set of differences, however, run across the parallels in our collective predicament: indeed, what has become ever-more apparent is the radically uneven distribution of the health, social and economic risks associated with the pandemic—and the public health measures implemented in response—both within and between societies. As concerns grow over a prolonged period of COVID-19 waves, further insights are needed into who bears the largest share of COVID-19 burden and why. The pursuit of health equity is widely held to be global health’s raison d’être; and yet, the deep inequities laid bare by the current pandemic underscore that the field must do more and we must do better. This article identifies five key domains for equity research and action going forward. These ‘equity frontiers’ are not meant to be exhaustive. Rather our emphasis here is on drawing lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic as a prompt for a revived—if not rethought—equity agenda for an evolving global health field.

Relevance of prediction scores derived from the SARS-CoV-2 first wave, in the UK COVID-19 second wave, for early discharge, severity and mortality: a PREDICT COVID UK prospective observational cohort study

“…The COVID-19 pandemic continues to escalate and evolve globally with lethal consequences, especially in South Asia and Latin America, despite remarkable advances in treatment, vaccination, and public health measures 22,28-30 . This may reflect increased infectivity and virulence of SARS-CoV-2 variants and inadequate healthcare response 4,6,7,15,20,21 . Infection may in time be adequately managed by vaccination and prudent public health measures, but this needs to be considered in tandem with the more urgent priority of ensuring appropriate hospital resource allocation for the acutely unwell while providing normal healthcare to the rest of the population 1,2,31-33 .…”

Safety and immunogenicity of a SARS-CoV-2 recombinant protein vaccine with AS03 adjuvant in healthy adults: interim findings from a phase 2, randomised, dose-finding, multi-centre study

“…Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), has inflicted unprecedented morbidity and mortality worldwide and continues to devastate global health and economies more than a year since its emergence. 1-3…”

A call to action to reform academic global health partnerships

“…1 The current pandemic, which has further highlighted these inequities, is an opportunity to acknowledge and rectify these gaps. 2 The changes needed include ensuring that partnerships between HIC and LMIC institutions are equitable and that benefits from those arrangements accrue equally to all parties. Collaborations rooted in respect, honesty, equity, as well as commitment to mutual capacity building and health outcomes aligned with the needs of the LMIC partners are essential to reforming global health.Previous attempts have been made to address this imbalance, but there is a lack of accountability.…”