An Overview of Health Reforms in the Covid-19 Pandemic Process

Tamer stated that the designs of the health systems of the countries differ from each other in terms of the financing and the provision of health services, beyond the conditions such as the economic situation of the societies, health history, cultural and behavioral qualities, and continued as follows:

“The roles undertaken by the private and public sectors, both in financing and in the provision of health services, differ from country to country. As such, comparing the health systems of countries one-to-one may lead to erroneous research approaches. However, a thorough examination and analysis of individual country experiences can make it possible to draw valuable lessons from countries' health systems designed in different ways."

Gülay Tamer continued his words as follows:

“Insistent instructions were made to take life-saving measures, such as preparing emergency action units against the COVID-19 virus, increasing capacities for the diagnosis and treatment of the disease, the need for hospitals to be in sufficient space, and the supply of needed personnel and medical supplies.

While the health systems of some countries were caught more prepared for this new unpredictable situation, we observed that some countries, including developed countries, were caught unprepared and their health systems were incapable of responding to the healthcare needs of their citizens.

Undoubtedly, in this situation, the economic resources of the countries, the preferences of the country's governments to handle this new situation, the geography and culture they are located in were important determinants; however, it is appropriate to state that the main factor that shapes the decisions of the country governments and the behavior of the citizens is their trust in the capacity of their health systems.”

In contrast to the situation observed in some developed countries, the Ministry of Health has managed to manage the situation in such a way that the health system and hospitals do not place all the burden that this virus can cause and remove on society, Gulay Tamer said.

Tamer said that our country has recently completed the Health Recovery Program, which is a very comprehensive program before such a critical global epidemic, and that it provides our health system with an infrastructure and capacity ready to fight.

“The elimination of COVID-19 essentially depends on our people's internalization of the awareness and culture of social distant living with a certain hygiene awareness, in other words, reaching a culture of behavior beyond the measures to be taken by the public and other sectors.”