Autor(es):
Simões, Jorge ; Magalhães, João Paulo Moreira ; Biscaia, André ; da Luz Pereira, António ; Augusto, Gonçalo Figueiredo ; Fronteira, Inês
Data: 2021
Identificador Persistente: http://hdl.handle.net/10362/133556
Origem: Repositório Institucional da UNL
Assunto(s): COVID-19; Europe; health systems; political organisation; State; Health Policy; SDG 3 - Good Health and Well-being; SDG 8 - Decent Work and Economic Growth; SDG 9 - Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure; SDG 10 - Reduced Inequalities; SDG 16 - Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions; SDG 17 - Partnerships for the Goals
Descrição
Publisher Copyright: © 2021 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
The time and type of the States' responses to the COVID-19 pandemic varied with the severity of the epidemiological situation, the perceived risk, the political organisation and the model of health system of the country. We discuss the response of Germany, Spain, France, Italy, Portugal and the United Kingdom during the first months of the COVID-19 epidemic in 2020, considering the political organisation of the country and its health system model. We analyse public health measures implemented to contain or mitigate the pandemic, as well as those related to governance, resources and reorganisation of services, financing mechanisms, response of the health system itself and health outcomes. To measure the burden of COVID-19, we use several indicators. The adoption of measures, to contain and mitigate epidemic varied in degree and time of adoption. All countries reorganised their governance structure and the provision of care, despite the differences in political models and health systems (ranging from a more unitary and centralised political organisational model—France and Portugal; to a decentralised matrix—Germany, Spain, Italy and the United Kingdom). Rather than the differences in political models and health systems, the explanation for the success in tackling the epidemic seems to lay in other social determinants of health.
