Coronavirus impact: WHO lists 5 major health issues to remain in focus in 2021

The year 2020 is nearing to an end. However the coronavirus pandemic remains the biggest challenge even in the coming year. Amid this scenario, the World Health Organisation (WHO) is worried that the pandemic can negate the global health progress made during the last 20 years.

The World Health Organisation has stated that next year, along with fighting against COVID-19, countries across the world need to work hard to boost their health care system to fight against various diseases. It has listed out several global health issues that need to be tracked next year.

Here are the issues that WHO is worried about.

1. Access to tests, medicines, vaccines for COVID-19
- WHO says that the priority in 2021 would be to ensure that all countries in the world have access to effective and safe tests, vaccines as well as medicines to tackle the coronavirus pandemic.

- WHO says that to end the acute phase of pandenic, its important that tests, vaccines and medicines be provided to the countries that need them urgently.

- According to WHO, the immediate challenge before it was to arrange for the remaining funds to help countries access the above resources to fight the pandemic.

2. Getting countries together for collective health security

- WHO says that 'no one is safe until everyone is safe'. The organisation says that it is important to bring all the countries together and build worldwide health security.

- WHO has said that it would help in tackling the health emergencies that have cropped up in humanitarian settings and have intensified due to the pandemic.

- It said that it would also use existing partnerships and forge new relationships in order to expand the workforce to deal with global health emergencies and also train them as well as standardise high-quality medical and health assistance.

3. Ensuring advance health for all
- Next year, WHO would work closely with its partners to ensure a strengthened healthcare system in all the countries, which would lead to a more effective response to the pandemic.

- The aim is also to build a healthcare system in all countries which would provide all the essential health services to every citizen close to their homes while ensuring that they don't fall into poverty.

4. Health inequities
- To tackle the glaring disparity in healthcare access, WHO has decided that in 2021, it would use its database and advance the universal health coverage initiative.

- WHO asserted that it would continue with its work with countries to monitor as well as address issues like differences in healthcare access on the basis of gender, ethnicity, income, education, occupation, etc.

5. Prevention and treatment of Non-communicable diseases and mental health conditions
- According to the latest estimates of WHO, non-communicable diseases led to seven of the top 10 causes of death last year.

- The importance of proper screening as well as treatment for non-communicable diseases like heart diseases, cancer and diabetes was further highlighted during the coronavirus pandemic, when patients suffering from these conditions became more vulnerable during the pandemic.

- Working in this regard would be a major focus for the agency next year, WHO said.