How The Healthcare Industry Should Prepare For The Next Pandemic

COVID-19 became a global threat at the start of 2020, and the world is still reeling from its effects. From over 3 million deaths to billions of dollars in economic losses, the damage it has caused is unprecedented.

While it might have seemed unexpected, several environmental experts had predicted that a pandemic would hit us sooner or later. US President Barrack Obama also predicted, back in 2014, that such a pandemic was a real possibility.

Unfortunately, we weren't prepared for a pandemic despite the warnings. But now that we know what the future could hold for us, there shouldn't be any further delays in preparation for the next pandemic.

Here’s how the healthcare industry should prepare for the next pandemic even as it currently battles COVID-19:

Healthcare For All

Every human being, regardless of their financial status, deserves access to financial care. However, during the pandemic, the people without medical insurance ended up suffering

For the world to have a chance at beating the next pandemic, healthcare for everyone has to become a priority. As long one human being is unsafe, everyone is unsafe.

The attitude moving forward needs to prioritize providing everyone with healthcare. This could be achieved either by giving everyone insurance, or reducing the general cost of healthcare, which is at extensively high levels in the US.

Alternate Methods of Delivering Healthcare

The pandemic led to explosive growth in the use of telemedicine, with 50% more chronic patients using it than before, and that is just one example of people embracing healthcare in multiple forms.

There is a fundamental need for healthcare, and if it’s being provided at a high enough standard of quality, the method of delivery doesn’t matter.

Along with telemedicine, virtual doctor care, mobile doctor visits, online video doctor consultations, and many other forms of healthcare have gained popularity recently.

This progress should be built on, so that in case we find ourselves amidst a pandemic again, the framework to continue regular medical procedures is already in place.

Improve Collaboration

Medical science is already a collaborative field, with doctors from the world over discussing, dissecting, and sharing information. However, the way and the speed at which information is shared needs to be improved.

Doctors should be able to access patient histories from all over the world on one platform, and there needs to be a portal where all emergency resources are made available.

When COVID-19 was first discovered, cases had already spread throughout the world. That was because there was limited information about it and the doctors in many countries did not know how to identify and handle Cases.

When the next pandemic arrives, there should be a way for healthcare professionals worldwide to immediately find out what the markers are and combine all efforts to stop the virus in its tracks.

This approach might also help with sharing resources, which could be particularly good for smaller countries, as they could access life-saving medicines, machines, procedures, and more.

Fund More Research

The COVID-19 vaccine is by far the fastest that any vaccine has been produced and approved by regulating bodies. In less than a year since the virus took hold, the vaccine was already being distributed.

This was possible because the research needed to make the vaccine work was already in place from decades ago. However, despite the vaccine being made available in record time, there were still millions of casualties, and it could take up to 2 more years until everyone is vaccinated.

That, in turn, has given rise to mutations of the virus, which could make the vaccines ineffective. The research for the next vaccine needs to be so aggressive that it could provide results even faster.

That is what efforts like the Global Virome Project are trying to achieve, and it is an encouraging sign.

Promote Trust

While the internet and technology have played a significant role in helping the world cope with COVID-19, there were some unfortunate uses of these resources. For example, there were multiple conspiracy theories about the vaccine that prevented people from taking them.

While it isn’t the healthcare industry's fault that people choose to spread and believe misinformation on the internet, the industry should promote more trust and transparency so that any fears that people have can be quelled quickly.

It is due to the lack of trust that anti-mask conspiracy theories gained momentum. As a result of those conspiracies, millions of people contracted the virus.

Reduce Stigma

COVID-19 has proven to be more dangerous for people with chronic conditions such as blood pressure and high cholesterol level. In parts of the world, there remains a stigma around these diseases that prevents the ones affected from seeking out medical help.

The healthcare industry should work to de-stigmatize these conditions. The more people get themselves treated for these conditions, the better protected they’ll be against COVID-19.

Of course, it can’t be known which conditions will make people more susceptible to the next pandemic, but it serve everyone well to be prepared for it.

Get an Online Doctor’s Consultation

If you’re suffering from a condition that makes you more susceptible to COVID-19 or any other virus, get in touch with us at TelMDCare.

We have a panel of the best doctors on call who'll assess and diagnose you virtually and provide you with a prescription that can help you get better.

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