COVID-19: reflecting on experience and anticipating the next steps: a perspective from the WHO regional office for Europe. (Special Issue: COVID-19 health system response.)

ABSTRACT

This article presents three key lessons that should form the foundation of the evolving COVID-19 response and long term recovery efforts (1) Even the best health systems were not sufficiently prepared building resilient health systems, (2) There is not a competition between health and the economy moving towards an economy of well-being, and (3) solidarity, innovation and a multisectoral response is needed to break out of this pandemic. Looking ahead, there is a need to examine the impact of COVID-19 on the ability to make significant progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals. While it is clear that progress will be hampered by this pandemic, setbacks should only serve to whet the appetite and achieve the ambitions. A multisectoral approach is of the utmost importance, but the real path through this crisis is by closing the gap between the politicians and the public. The solutions must be created together, the contribution of the communities must be increased rapidly. Despite its difficulties, COVID-19 offers the opportunity to rapidly produce social and political change on a scale that it has never done before. Necessity, courage, innovation and cooperation are the attributes that are need for assertion.