HTAi and the implications and opportunities from COVID-19 including activities to reduce the impact of misinformation

Godman, Brian (2020) HTAi and the implications and opportunities from COVID-19 including activities to reduce the impact of misinformation. HTAi Developing Countries Newsletter. (In Press)

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Abstract

Prevalence and mortality rates due to COVID-19 continue to grow. However, there are considerable differences across continents with respect to the intensity of preventative activities that were instigated in response to the pandemic, their timing and outcomes. In addition, considerable unintended consequences arising from the pandemic including the impact of misinformation on utilisation, shortages and deaths from hydroxychloroquine as well as rises in non-communicable diseases (NCDs) including cancer, cardiovascular diseases and mental health. In addition, future increases in communicable diseases arising from reduced vaccinations of children due to lockdown and other activities. Extensive activities among a number of African and Asian countries to prevent the spread of the virus/ associated morbidity and mortality are summarised for Africa in https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphar.2020.01205/full, for India in https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphar.2020.582154/abstract and Asia in https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2020.585832/abstract. The activities in e.g. Korea, Taiwan and Vietnam have been extremely successful in limiting the spread of the virus and with it associated morbidity and mortality - similarly in a number of African countries, e.g. Ghana (https://jidc.org/index.php/journal/article/view/32903226).