Dialogue Plenary: Health in Times of COVID-19
- The new normal requires new habits and new policies that include focusing on the psychosocial wellbeing of people.
- Innovative ways to overcome the effects of the pandemic must be developed, for example, developing novel supply chains and improving engagement with the private sector.
- To support those who are working to protect the rest of the population, more healthcare workers need to be trained about safety practices. In addition to training, they should be supplied PPE and motivational support through videos, TV, and radio programmes.
- It is important to acknowledge the crucial role of health workers and recognize them as frontline heroes looking after patients while putting their lives at risk.
- Research and development on COVID-19 needs to be ramped up which involves undertaking large-scale studies of COVID-19 cases in Pakistan supported by the World Health Organization.
- During a pandemic, health should be seen as a collective responsibility rather than an individual one.
- Mass testing should be introduced in Pakistan as in the UK.
- A trace and track system of COVID-19 patients as well as other people should be put in place.
- The media and government should introduce awareness programmes about the importance of social distancing; and not stigmatizing self-isolation of patients.
- Medical doctors should have properly ventilated consultation offices.
- Policymakers must work towards devising policies that focus on preventive healthcare.
- An integrated approach regarding self-isolation of patients should be developed keeping in mind their mental health.
- Epidemiological modelling should be done in Pakistan.
- Health authorities should involve multi-specialty doctors for COVID-19 patients as they usually have other underlying health issues as well besides lung damage.
- Hospitals should set up labs within COVID-19 wards for monitoring basic health conditions of the patients.
- Pakistan needs to increase the number of functional ambulances with necessary life-saving equipment.
- Services of psychologists and psychiatrists should be arranged for patients, attendants, and the medical staff.
- There is a need to arrange necessary respiratory apparatus wherever deficient along with teaching medical staff how to use it.
- The public needs to cooperate and follow government SOPs regarding the COVID-19 pandemic.
