Resources

Countries worldwide are continuing to face many challenges as they respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. The maintenance of essential health services is critical as disruptions to essential health services – including services for health promotion, disease prevention, diagnosis, treatment, rehabilitation and palliation – may potentially have even greater adverse population and individual health effects than the pandemic itself, especially in vulnerable populations.

To better understand the extent of disruptions to essential health services caused by the COVID-19 pandemic worldwide, WHO has been monitoring the global situation through multiple avenues including a rapid key informant survey on the continuation of essential health services during the COVID-19 pandemic.1 In November – December 2021, WHO launched the third round of a its global pulse survey in which 223 countries, territories and areas were invited to respond to a standardized web-based survey. This third survey follows up on WHO’s previous 2020 and 2021 pulse surveys: Round  and Round 2 pulse surveys on continuity of essential health services during the COVID-19 pandemic; Rapid assessment on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on noncommunicable disease resources and services; Rapid assessment on the impact of COVID-19 on mental, neurological and substance use services  and Round 1 and Round 2 pulse surveys on immunization.

Click the linked file below to read the report.