Since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, healthcare systems around the world have been pushed to their limits in terms of resources. From a shortage of healthcare workers to difficulties procuring normal medicines, let alone vaccines, it is safe to say many of the strengths and weaknesses of healthcare systems worldwide have had the spotlight shone on them. While being strained is not a situation these systems want to be put under, in many cases their silver lining has been governments ploughing more funding into them to cope with the pandemic and cover holes they have neglected over the years. We’ll have a look at some of the healthcare system improvements the Covid-19 pandemic has brought about.
Increased recruitment of healthcare workers
The NHS in the UK has been underfunded for years, which has meant staff shortages and longer waiting times for consultations and operations are a common theme. Well, since the pandemic, the government has allocated more funding for the recruitment and training of healthcare professionals. Unfortunately, some had fallen victim to Covid and replacing those people and their expertise is all but impossible. However, the government is heavily investing in recruiting and training more nurses and doctors for the long term to compensate and to avoid even more of a shortfall.
More technology
We are at the stage where more technology can only be of benefit to the healthcare system, from virtual consultations to hi-tech robots used in performing surgeries. Hospitals have invested heavily in reducing contact and contamination within their premises such as installing visitor management systems, to high-end air purifiers that filter out even “superviruses”. Improved technology within hospitals is one of the best improvements to come from the pandemic. Telemedicine has come along leaps and bounds with many systems offering this as an option, enabling more patients to be seen during the day, and reducing the chances of infection by not coming to the hospitals or clinics.
A better understanding of healthcare
With so much focus on the healthcare system, it has brought to light much of what goes on behind the scenes that the general public was probably not as informed of as now. Take for example the vaccines, with so much scepticism surrounding them because of how quickly they were created compared to a normal timeline for vaccines, people almost forgot how they worked. People started to think that it would be a cure for the virus, when in fact the way it works just prevents severe symptoms that could lead to hospitalisation and even death. The pandemic putting so much focus on such issues has also helped people to become better informed about how vaccines work, as well as the struggles of healthcare workers, and therefore becoming more understanding and supportive.