Coronavirus is a family of viruses transmitted between animals and humans. It can cause various illnesses like the common cold, MERS, and SARS.
The Covid-19 disease is an infectious disease of a newly discovered coronavirus. People infected with Covid-19 cannot recover without special treatment.
According to the World Health Organization, there will be 3,540,437 confirmed deaths worldwide on 31 May 2021.
There is no sector of life unaffected by this novel coronavirus. Despite improvements in healthcare, nothing could prove effective in removing the virus.
How COVID-19 Is Affecting The Healthcare Industry
This novel coronavirus has taken its toll on primary health care. According to the WHO, primary healthcare is a fundamental right complementary to life. But Covid-19 has given the healthcare systems a resounding blow.
Therefore, it has affected many people’s primary healthcare provisions. Moreover, its impact on the healthcare industry has been the worst.
- Primary healthcare is severely affected; the scenario worldwide has one thing in common: doctors juggle hard to save the Covid-19 affected patients. They are running from one hospital bed to the other. They are working hard to treat patients arriving in numbers.
They stay miles away from their families. Covid-19 has impacted doctors and their mental health severely.Many healthcare workers succumbed to the virus among the millions of lives lost. Yet, they played crucial roles and served at the front lines.Thus, many doctors have shut their offices. They are forced to now prescribe medicines over a call and switch to the online consultation. The healthcare sector cannot lose more frontline workers.Still, the healthcare workers stretched their limits. However, they can only take up urgent matters. Therefore, health experts and the government have advised others to practice home isolation while contacting a health expert.Still, the healthcare workers stretched their limits. However, they can only take up urgent matters. Therefore, health experts and the government have advised others to practice home isolation while contacting a health expert.
- Vaccine shortage
Vaccine shortages in all the countries have put their medical infrastructure to the test. They are required to re-examine modern manufacturing practices and supply chain theory. They have to define and overcome neoliberal economics. According to downtoearth.com, there have been 773 million vaccine jabs(23 April 2021). Yet, only 2 percent of the world’s adult population has been vaccinated. Governments should boost vaccine output.
- Effect on pregnant women
The chances of pregnant and lactating women falling prey to the virus are high. According to medical news today, a suspected covid-19 infected mother must be kept separate from her child post-birth. There are also concerns that partners should not be present during delivery.
- Significant financial losses in the US healthcare industry
- The American Hospital Association says that an economic loss of $202.6 billion or an average loss of $50.7 billion is expected per month.
- The US hospitals have undergone tremendous financial strain with the increase in Covid-19 medical procedural costs and revenue loss.
- There has been a drastic impact of coronavirus on nursing homes. More than 40% of deaths due to the pandemic are of residents or the staff of such homes and facilities.
- There was an allocation of approximately $5 billion to the state veteran’s homes by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.
Conclusion
The Covid-19 virus has had a severe impact on the healthcare industry of all counties. This has had an immense effect on the growth curve of the healthcare industry. There has been an increase in jobs in the healthcare industry to accommodate more staff members. Unfortunately, many doctors and health care staff have lost lives amid the pandemic.
The leading cause for such a situation was the lack of preparation. Items such as personal protective equipment for healthcare doctors and workers, medical equipment, ventilators, and sanitizers were very short supply. This shortage was brought to light by Covid-19.
It has prompted the healthcare industry worldwide to invent and implement new plans and technologies. These plans for pandemic preparedness need the government’s backing.
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