Since the rise of globalisation, the world has become more closely connected and people can easily interact with each other without facing any serious barriers. This has been both beneficial and detrimental to the social, political, and economic sphere as far as the welfare of people is concerned. The free movement of people, goods, and services brought about by globalisation has stimulated socio-economic development, but it has also become a channel for the spread of diseases. As a result, because of the technological developments associated with globalisation, an outbreak such as Covid-19 has turned into a major pandemic that affects people around the world regardless of their geographical location. The ease and accessibility of travel, at least in normal times, contributes to the rapid and wide-ranging spread of viruses. Once you are able to get back on an airplane, you will be able to reach anywhere in the world within few hours, and a recently infected, asymptomatic traveler can bring a deadly virus from virtually anywhere in the world.
On 31 December 2019, health authorities in China reported to the World Health Organization (WHO) a cluster of viral pneumonia cases of unknown cause in Wuhan, Hubei and an investigation was launched in early January 2020 The World Health Organization declared the outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern on 30 January, and a pandemic on 11 March. As of 24 May 2020, more than 5.31 million cases of Covid-19 have been reported in more than 188 countries and territories from all continents, resulting in more than 342,000 deaths. More than 2.11 million people have recovered from the virus.
The cure for Covid-19 is yet to be found, and its impact—in terms of infected people and deaths—is continuing to grow around the world
The pandemic is far from over. There are more questions than answers about testing, treatments, and, what we need most, an effective vaccine.
In recent months there have been an explosion of research activities and clinical trials to find a cure and a vaccine for Covid-19. Most of these activities occur on a local level. However, at the same time, there is a need for coordination of international efforts and the formulation of a common global sharing.
However this much is certain; we’re connected. We have all the power in the world to talk to each other—distance, language, geography offer no barriers—and yet we don’t take advantage of it.
It’s clear that there is no better time than now to start really looking at healthcare from a global perspective. In our countries we need to study what other countries have done, how they have combated Covid-19, where they have been successful, and where they could have done better. This type of analysis will help, all people around the world, tackle Covid-19 more effectively.
At the same time, a global sharing of research and studies will be necessary to have safe treatments and, above all, a safe vaccine as soon as possible.
The global nature of Covid-19 calls for a global response, both in the geographic sense and across the whole range of sectors involved. Nobody is exempt from the problem!
Covid-19 can be an opportunity to look at healthcare from a global perspective.
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