Protecting essential health services in low-income and middle-income countries and humanitarian settings while responding to the COVID-19 pandemic

Authors: Karl Blanchet, Ala Alwan, Caroline Antoine, Marion Jane Cros, Ferozuddin Feroz, Tseguaneh Amsalu Guracha, Oystein Haaland, Alemayehu Hailu, Peter Hangoma, Dean Jamison, Solomon Tessema Memirie, Ingrid Miljeteig, Ahmad Jan Naeem, Sara L. Nam, Ole Frithjof Norheim, Stéphane Verguet, David Watkins, Kjell Arne Johansson

In health outcomes terms, the poorest countries stand to lose the most from these disruptions. In this paper, we make the case for a rational approach to public sector health spending and decision making during and in the early recovery phase of the COVID-19 pandemic. Based on ethics and equity principles, it is crucial to ensure that patients not infected by COVID-19 continue to get access to healthcare and that the services they need continue to be resourced. We present a list of 120 essential nonCOVID-19 health interventions that were adapted from the model health benefit packages developed by the Disease Control Priorities project.