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Early health system responses to the COVID-19 pandemic in Mediterranean countries: A tale of successes and challenges

Author

Listed:
  • Waitzberg, Ruth
  • Hernández-Quevedo, Cristina
  • Bernal-Delgado, Enrique
  • Estupiñán-Romero, Francisco
  • Angulo-Pueyo, Ester
  • Theodorou, Mamas
  • Kantaris, Marios
  • Charalambous, Chrystala
  • Gabriel, Elena
  • Economou, Charalampos
  • Kaitelidou, Daphne
  • Konstantakopoulou, Olympia
  • Vildiridi, Lilian Venetia
  • Meshulam, Amit
  • de Belvis, Antonio Giulio
  • Morsella, Alisha
  • Bezzina, Alexia
  • Vincenti, Karen
  • Figueiredo Augusto, Gonçalo
  • Fronteira, Inês
  • Simões, Jorge
  • Karanikolos, Marina
  • Williams, Gemma
  • Maresso, Anna

Abstract

This paper conducts a comparative review of the (curative) health systems’ response taken by Cyprus, Greece, Israel, Italy, Malta, Portugal, and Spain during the first six months of the COVID-19 pandemic. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, these Mediterranean countries shared similarities in terms of health system resources, which were low compared to the EU/OECD average. We distill key policy insights regarding the governance tools adopted to manage the pandemic, the means to secure sufficient physical infrastructure and workforce capacity and some financing and coverage aspects.

Suggested Citation

  • Waitzberg, Ruth & Hernández-Quevedo, Cristina & Bernal-Delgado, Enrique & Estupiñán-Romero, Francisco & Angulo-Pueyo, Ester & Theodorou, Mamas & Kantaris, Marios & Charalambous, Chrystala & Gabriel, E, 2022. "Early health system responses to the COVID-19 pandemic in Mediterranean countries: A tale of successes and challenges," Health Policy, Elsevier, vol. 126(5), pages 465-475.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:hepoli:v:126:y:2022:i:5:p:465-475
    DOI: 10.1016/j.healthpol.2021.10.007
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    Cited by:

    1. Berardi, Chiara & Schut, Frederik & Paolucci, Francesco, 2024. "The dynamics of international health system reforms: Evidence of a new wave in response to the 2008 economic crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic?," Health Policy, Elsevier, vol. 143(C).
    2. Vitaly Kaftan & Wadim Kandalov & Igor Molodtsov & Anna Sherstobitova & Wadim Strielkowski, 2023. "Socio-Economic Stability and Sustainable Development in the Post-COVID Era: Lessons for the Business and Economic Leaders," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(4), pages 1-18, February.

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