¿And after the pandemic?

ABSTRACT

COVID-19 will mark a before and after. Moreover, events are occurring that will tend to lessen the significance of the pandemic, to place it as a health event of extraordinary importance. Events such as the rearrangement of existing empires in search of new balances;generalized social explosion;possible regressive trajectories in world democratization;populist-nationalist movements that are highly dangerous for democracies;intensification of ecological refugee flows and phenomena such as climate change, which is unnerving public opinion, are just some of the current macro-trends. With specific reference to the post-pandemic period, there are facts that should be investigated Why, for several decades, have the countries of the region allocated to their health services a lower percentage investment than those considered appropriate by the World Health Organization (WHO) or the practical non-existence of acceptable social security systems? Why has the democratizing wave that has benefited the region underestimated public health as an important item to improve the quality of life? Regarding the economic devastation caused by the pandemic, experts have dared to say that it will take one to two decades to return to normality, especially in the labor market, where millions of workers have been made redundant and profound changes are expected in the modalities and ways of working, leading to a reduction in employment opportunities. Education, fundamental to continuing future progress, will emerge from the pandemic subject to a major overhaul. After the pandemic, there will be a demand for more resources to be allocated to scientific research on infectious diseases;one field that will surely be strengthened will be that of ecology. I am convinced that the pandemic has served to strengthen the paradigm of sustainable development;that which harmonizes economic, social, political, and ecological sustainability. © Gac Méd Caracas 2022. All Rights Reserved.