By Manas Mishra

(Reuters) – In the midst of the COVID-19 epidemic, more than half a trillion people around the world were forced to extreme poverty. They had to cover their medical costs from their pockets.

According to joint statements from the two organizations, the pandemic caused disruptions in global health care and created the most severe economic crisis since 1930s. This made it more difficult to afford healthcare.

Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director General, stated that all governments should immediately resume efforts and speed up their efforts to make sure every citizen has access to health care services free from financial penalties.

Tedros encouraged governments to focus more on their health care systems in order to continue on the path towards universal coverage. This is defined by WHO as all people having access to essential health services without any financial hardship.

The United States is one of few industrialized countries without universal healthcare. Healthcare has become a significant political topic.

Pandemics made global matters worse. Immunisation coverage decreased for the first time since ten years. There were also more cases of malaria and tuberculosis.

Juan Pablo Uribe from the World Bank’s global director for Health, Nutrition and Population said, “Governments will need to make difficult choices within a restricted fiscal space to preserve and increase their health budgets.”