The impact of the COVID‐19 pandemic and related policy responses on non‐COVID‐19 healthcare utilization in China

Abstract

We investigate the impact of the COVID‐19 pandemic and related policy responses on non‐COVID‐19 healthcare utilization (i.e., different types of outpatient care) up to October 2020 in China. Using an administrative database from a large prefecture‐level city, we find that both direct exposure to the COVID‐19 pandemic and the strict containment policy responses led to reductions in outpatient care utilization. The largest decline during the lockdown was observed in preventive care visits, which nevertheless recovered to pre‐pandemic levels 2 months after the lockdown. The disruptions in prenatal care visits could not be offset by the recovery later on. Chronic care and emergency department visits had not returned to pre‐pandemic levels as of October 2020, which may be driven by extended days' supply of prescription medication, increased use of telemedicine, and improved health‐protective behaviors. In the reopening period, there were increases in visits for mental and sleep disorders, especially among children, and for medical abortion. Among health facilities at all levels, primary care facilities saw the least reductions in total outpatient visits. Our results emphasize the need for strategies to ensure access to urgent or essential care services when managing the current epidemiologic transition and future crises.

Public Health Impact of Paxlovid as Treatment for COVID-19, United States

“…Online healthcare services (e.g., telemedicine) and community test-to-treat programs ( 24 ), such as those piloted in Pennsylvania and New Jersey ( 25 ), could be expanded nationally, and even globally, to accelerate and broaden access to antiviral drugs ( 26 ). For example, in 2020, China began an initiative to expand remote internet-based COVID-19 care ( 27 ). The country established 1,500 internet hospitals (either by extending existing hospitals or by opening new institutions) during 2019–2021 ( 28 ).…”

The public health impact of Paxlovid COVID-19 treatment in the United States

“…Online healthcare services (e.g., telemedicine) and community test-to-treat programs (37), such as those piloted in Pennsylvania and New Jersey (38), could be expanded nationally, and even globally, to accelerate and broaden access to antivirals (39). For example, in 2020, China began an initiative to expand remote internet-based COVID-19 care (40). They established 1500 internet hospitals (either extending existing hospitals or new institutions) between 2019 to 2021 (41).…”

“…For example, in 2020, China began an initiative to expand remote internet-based COVID-19 care46 . They established 1500 internet hospitals (either extending existing hospitals or new institutions) between 2019 to 202147 .…”

Effects of private health insurance on healthcare services during the MERS Pandemic: Evidence from Korea

“…In addition, social distancing policies, such as stay-at-home, work from home, and closure of daycare or school, also reduce medical demand by restricting mobility. From the perspective of the supply of healthcare services, medical providers can temporarily restrict the treatment of patients to focus on the treatment of infected patients [ [1] , [2] , [3] , [4] , [5] , [6] , [7] ]. Finally, the spread of infectious diseases can change an individual's healthy behaviors.…”