Pandemic impacted health services for NCDs

The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the operation of health services
for non-communicable diseases (NCDs).

A virtual rapid assessment of service delivery for NCDs during the
pandemic in the Americas, completed by 158 countries around the world,
including 28 member states of the Pan American Health Organisation,
during a four-week period in May, confirmed that the pandemic has had
a global impact and that the disruption of routine health services
poses a threat to the health of people living with non-communicable
chronic diseases.

“This situation is very troubling because it puts people living with
NCDs at greater risk of becoming critically ill or dying if they have
COVID-19,” said Anselm Hennis, Director of the Department of
Noncommunicable Diseases and Mental Health at PAHO.

When the pandemic began, routine health services were reorganised or
interrupted and many stopped providing care to people in treatment for
cancer, cardiovascular diseases and diabetes, among others. Many of
the health workers who usually provide this kind of care were
reassigned to the COVID-19 response. Treatment and care for these
people must continue, Dr. Hennis said. “Countries should seek
innovative ways to ensure continuity while at the same time addressing
COVID-19.”

According to the survey conducted by the Pan American Health
Organisation/ World Health Organisation (PAHO/WHO), before COVID-19,
81% of all deaths in the Americas were due to NCDs. An estimated 62
million people in the Americas are living with diabetes and 1.2
million in Latin America and the Caribbean are living with cancer.
Around a quarter of people in the Americas have a chronic disease and
are at greater risk of becoming critically ill or dying if they are
infected with COVID-19.

In the majority (89%) of countries in the Americas that responded to
the survey, ministry of health staff designated to work on NCD
services have been partially or totally redirected to work on the
COVID-19 response.

Postponement of screening programs (e.g., for breast and cervical
cancer) has also been widespread (43% of countries), in accordance
with WHO’s initial recommendation to minimize non-urgent care in
health facilities during the pandemic.

The most common reasons for interrupting or reducing services were:
cancellation of scheduled treatments, reduced availability of public
transportation, fear of visiting health care centers, and staff
shortages due to reassignments to support the COVID-19 response. Also,
some countries experienced disruptions in their supply chains and
faced challenges in the distribution of drugs and health products, all
of which has affected patients’ access to services.

Barbados Advocate

Mailing Address:
Advocate Publishers (2000) Inc
Fontabelle, St. Michael, Barbados

Phone: (246) 467-2000
Fax: (246) 434-2020 / (246) 434-1000