How are countries supporting their health workers during COVID-19? (Special Issue: COVID-19 health system response.)

Health workers have been at the forefront of treating and caring for patients with COVID-19. They were often under immense pressure to care for severely ill patients with a new disease, under strict hygiene conditions and with lockdown measures creating practical barriers to working. In this article we consider measures that countries have put in place to support health workers and enable them to do their job. We show that countries have implemented a range of measures, from mental health support, financial bonuses and practical support such as free accommodation and transport. The effectiveness of these initiatives should be evaluated to inform future crisis responses and strategies for health workforce development.