GLOBAL HEALTH PREPAREDNESS: ANALYZING RESPONSES TO EPIDEMICS AND PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCIES
Main Article Content
Keywords
Global health preparedness, Health security index, Public compliance, Resource allocation, International collaboration, Case fatality rate, Surveillance systems
Abstract
This study examines global health preparedness by analyzing quantitative data on preparedness indicators and qualitative insights from expert interviews across 30 countries. Using data from the WHO, Global Health Security Index (GHSI), and International Health Regulations (IHR) assessments, countries were categorized by preparedness levels: high (GHSI > 75), moderate (50–75), and low (< 50). Countries with strong healthcare infrastructure and surveillance systems, such as the United States, Germany, and Japan, showed significantly lower-case fatality rates (correlation coefficient -0.65, p < 0.05) and faster containment times compared to nations with less robust systems, like India, Nigeria, and Ethiopia. Thematic analysis of 120 expert interviews revealed key themes, including resource allocation challenges, public trust, and international collaboration. Countries with centralized decision-making structures notably demonstrated faster responses, while those with high public trust saw better compliance with health measures. Despite the essential role of international cooperation, geopolitical tensions often limit effective cross-border responses. This study underscores the importance of strengthening health infrastructure, fostering public trust, and enhancing global partnerships to mitigate future health crises.
References
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24. Cardwell K, Clyne B, Broderick N, Tyner B, Masukume G, Larkin L, et al. Lessons learnt from the COVID-19 pandemic in selected countries to inform strengthening of public health systems: a qualitative study. Public Health. 2023 Nov 17;225:343–52. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.puhe.2023.10.024
25. Wilder-Smith A, Osman S. Public health emergencies of international concern: a historic overview. J Travel Med. 2020 Dec 23;27(8):taaa227. doi: 10.1093/jtm/taaa227. PMID: 33284964; PMCID: PMC7798963.
26. Olliaro P, Torreele E. Global challenges in preparedness and response to epidemic infectious diseases. Molecular Therapy. 2022 Feb 23;30(5):1801–9. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ymthe.2022.02.022
27. Pandemic preparedness and strengthening health systems. World Bank. https://www.worldbank.org/en/topic/pandemics
28. Şencan I, Bulut D, Şencan IH, Ağalar C. Global health emergencies during the pandemic and their solutions. Turk J Med Sci. 2021 Dec 17;51(SI-1):3194-3206. doi: 10.3906/sag-2106-183. PMID: 34365778; PMCID: PMC8771008.
29. Oecd. OECD Health Policy Studies Ready for the Next Crisis? Investing in Health System Resilience. OECD Publishing; 2023.
30. Kapur GB, Smith JP. Emergency Public Health: Preparedness and Response: Preparedness and Response. Jones & Bartlett Publishers; 2010 Oct 5.
31. Lee JM, Jansen R, Sanderson KE, Guerra F, Keller-Olaman S, Murti M, O’Sullivan TL, Law MP, Schwartz B, Bourns LE, Khan Y. Public health emergency preparedness for infectious disease emergencies: a scoping review of recent evidence. BMC Public Health. 2023 Mar 2;23(1):420.
2. World Health Organization: WHO. International health regulations. 2019. https://www.who.int/health-topics/international-health-regulations
3. Sands P, Mundaca-Shah C, Dzau VJ. The Neglected Dimension of Global Security--A Framework for Countering Infectious-Disease Crises. N Engl J Med. 2016 Mar 31;374(13):1281-7. doi: 10.1056/NEJMsr1600236. Epub 2016 Jan 13. PMID: 26761419.
4. Filip R, Gheorghita Puscaselu R, Anchidin-Norocel L, Dimian M, Savage WK. Global Challenges to Public Health Care Systems during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Review of Pandemic Measures and Problems. J Pers Med. 2022 Aug 7;12(8):1295. doi: 10.3390/jpm12081295. PMID: 36013244; PMCID: PMC9409667.
5. Lal A, Abdalla SM, Chattu VK, Erondu NA, Lee TL, Singh S, Abou-Taleb H, Vega Morales J, Phelan A. Pandemic preparedness and response: exploring the role of universal health coverage within the global health security architecture. Lancet Glob Health. 2022 Nov;10(11):e1675-e1683. doi: 10.1016/S2214-109X(22)00341-2. Epub 2022 Sep 27. PMID: 36179734; PMCID: PMC9514836.
6. Bedi JS, Vijay D, Dhaka P, Singh Gill JP, Barbuddhe SB. Emergency preparedness for public health threats, surveillance, modelling & forecasting. Indian J Med Res. 2021 Mar;153(3):287-298. doi: 10.4103/ijmr.IJMR_653_21. PMID: 33906991; PMCID: PMC8204835.
7. Hill V, Githinji G, Vogels CBF, Bento AI, Chaguza C, Carrington CVF, Grubaugh ND. Toward a global virus genomic surveillance network. Cell Host Microbe. 2023 Jun 14;31(6):861-873. doi: 10.1016/j.chom.2023.03.003. Epub 2023 Mar 6. PMID: 36921604; PMCID: PMC9986120.
8. Galaitsi SE, Cegan JC, Volk K, Joyner M, Trump BD, Linkov I. The challenges of data usage for the United States' COVID-19 response. Int J Inf Manage. 2021 Aug;59:102352. doi: 10.1016/j.ijinfomgt.2021.102352. Epub 2021 Apr 2. PMID: 33824545; PMCID: PMC8017563.
9. World Health Organization. Global diffusion of eHealth: making universal health coverage achievable: report of the third global survey on eHealth. World Health Organization; 2017 Mar 27.
10. Yousef MH, Alhalaseh YN, Mansour R, Sultan H, Alnadi N, Maswadeh A, Al-Sheble YM, Sinokrot R, Ammar K, Mansour A, Al-Hussaini M. The Fair Allocation of Scarce Medical Resources: A Comparative Study From Jordan. Front Med (Lausanne). 2021 Jan 12;7:603406. doi: 10.3389/fmed.2020.603406. PMID: 33585506; PMCID: PMC7873904.
11. Madhav N, Oppenheim B, Gallivan M, Mulembakani P, Rubin E, Wolfe N. Pandemics: risks, impacts, and mitigation. In: Jamison DT, Gelband H, Horton S, Jha P, Laxminarayan R, Mock CN, Nugent R, editors. Disease control priorities: improving health and reducing poverty. 3rd ed. Washington (DC): The International Bank for Reconstruction and Development / The World Bank; 2017 Nov 27. Chapter 17. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK525302/ doi: 10.1596/978-1-4648-0527-1_ch17.
12. Alscher A, Wissing C. Adoption of digital vaccination services from a literally professional view: a commentary on “It is the click flow, not the value” from a health care workers and agility perspective. EPH-International Journal of Business & Management Science. 2023 Aug 29;9(3):14–16. https://doi.org/10.53555/eijbms.v9i3.142
13. Lotfi M, Hamblin MR, Rezaei N. COVID-19: Transmission, prevention, and potential therapeutic opportunities. Clin Chim Acta. 2020 Sep;508:254-266. doi: 10.1016/j.cca.2020.05.044. Epub 2020 May 29. PMID: 32474009; PMCID: PMC7256510.
14. Sapienza A, Falcone R. The Role of Trust in COVID-19 Vaccine Acceptance: Considerations from a Systematic Review. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022 Dec 30;20(1):665. doi: 10.3390/ijerph20010665. PMID: 36612982; PMCID: PMC9819668.
15. World Health Organization. WHO benchmarks for International Health Regulations (IHR) capacities. World Health Organization; 2019.
16. Joint External Evaluations . https://www.who.int/emergencies/operations/international-health-regulations-monitoring-evaluation-framework/joint-external-evaluations
17. Gooding K, Bertone MP, Loffreda G, Witter S. How can we strengthen partnership and coordination for health system emergency preparedness and response? Findings from a synthesis of experience across countries facing shocks. BMC Health Services Research. 2022 Nov 29;22(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-022-08859-6
18. Lal A, Erondu NA, Heymann DL, Gitahi G, Yates R. Fragmented health systems in COVID-19: rectifying the misalignment between global health security and universal health coverage. Lancet. 2021;397(10268):61-67.
19. Khatri RB, Endalamaw A, Erku D, Wolka E, Nigatu F, Zewdie A, Assefa Y. Preparedness, impacts, and responses of public health emergencies towards health security: qualitative synthesis of evidence. Arch Public Health. 2023 Nov 30;81(1):208. doi: 10.1186/s13690-023-01223-y. PMID: 38037151; PMCID: PMC10687930.
20. Sarkar A, Liu G, Jin Y, Xie Z, Zheng ZJ. Public health preparedness and responses to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic in South Asia: a situation and policy analysis. Glob Health J. 2020 Dec;4(4):121-132. doi: 10.1016/j.glohj.2020.11.003. Epub 2020 Nov 12. PMID: 33200035; PMCID: PMC7657871.
21. DeSalvo K, Hughes B, Bassett M, Benjamin G, Fraser M, Galea S, et al. Public Health COVID-19 Impact Assessment: Lessons Learned and Compelling Needs. NAM Perspectives .2021 Apr 6; https://doi.org/10.31478/202104c
22. Bolsen T, Palm R. Politicization and COVID-19 vaccine resistance in the U.S. Prog Mol Biol Transl Sci. 2022;188(1):81-100. doi: 10.1016/bs.pmbts.2021.10.002. Epub 2021 Nov 10. PMID: 35168748; PMCID: PMC8577882.
23. Emikpe BO, Emikpe AO, Asare DA, Botchway LAN. Knowledge of and perceived public health significance of zoonoses among veterinary and medical students in Ghana. Afr J Biomed Res. 2024;27(1):97-105. doi: 10.4314/ajbr.v27i1.13.
24. Cardwell K, Clyne B, Broderick N, Tyner B, Masukume G, Larkin L, et al. Lessons learnt from the COVID-19 pandemic in selected countries to inform strengthening of public health systems: a qualitative study. Public Health. 2023 Nov 17;225:343–52. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.puhe.2023.10.024
25. Wilder-Smith A, Osman S. Public health emergencies of international concern: a historic overview. J Travel Med. 2020 Dec 23;27(8):taaa227. doi: 10.1093/jtm/taaa227. PMID: 33284964; PMCID: PMC7798963.
26. Olliaro P, Torreele E. Global challenges in preparedness and response to epidemic infectious diseases. Molecular Therapy. 2022 Feb 23;30(5):1801–9. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ymthe.2022.02.022
27. Pandemic preparedness and strengthening health systems. World Bank. https://www.worldbank.org/en/topic/pandemics
28. Şencan I, Bulut D, Şencan IH, Ağalar C. Global health emergencies during the pandemic and their solutions. Turk J Med Sci. 2021 Dec 17;51(SI-1):3194-3206. doi: 10.3906/sag-2106-183. PMID: 34365778; PMCID: PMC8771008.
29. Oecd. OECD Health Policy Studies Ready for the Next Crisis? Investing in Health System Resilience. OECD Publishing; 2023.
30. Kapur GB, Smith JP. Emergency Public Health: Preparedness and Response: Preparedness and Response. Jones & Bartlett Publishers; 2010 Oct 5.
31. Lee JM, Jansen R, Sanderson KE, Guerra F, Keller-Olaman S, Murti M, O’Sullivan TL, Law MP, Schwartz B, Bourns LE, Khan Y. Public health emergency preparedness for infectious disease emergencies: a scoping review of recent evidence. BMC Public Health. 2023 Mar 2;23(1):420.
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Nov 13, 2024
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Dr Ashwini L H, Dr Vinaykumar L H, & Dr Hanumanaik L. (2024). GLOBAL HEALTH PREPAREDNESS: ANALYZING RESPONSES TO EPIDEMICS AND PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCIES. Journal of Population Therapeutics and Clinical Pharmacology, 31(11), 205-217. https://doi.org/10.53555/0d2dmq48
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Author Biographies
Dr Ashwini L H
Ex-Assistant Professor, JJM Medical College and rc Davanagere, Karnataka
Dr Vinaykumar L H
Administrative Medical Officer Phc Aladageri Hirekerur tq, Haveri District
Dr Hanumanaik L
Chief Medical Officer GH Harihara, Harihara tq, Davanagere District
How to Cite
Dr Ashwini L H, Dr Vinaykumar L H, & Dr Hanumanaik L. (2024). GLOBAL HEALTH PREPAREDNESS: ANALYZING RESPONSES TO EPIDEMICS AND PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCIES. Journal of Population Therapeutics and Clinical Pharmacology, 31(11), 205-217. https://doi.org/10.53555/0d2dmq48