The invisible victims - Impact of the pandemic on patients without COVID-19

J Pak Med Assoc. 2020 May;70(Suppl 3)(5):S149-S152. doi: 10.5455/JPMA.36.

Abstract

The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has shocked the world to a standstill. Routine healthcare has been severely disrupted. Healthcare service is a finite resource and in the current pandemic situation the risks of providing care to individual patients, whether they be confirmed, probable or suspected cases, should be balanced against the ability to provide safe routine long-term care to others. But how far can the healthcare system protect itself and fear the unknown, before it starts causing harm by omission? Herein we provide a review of cases that were misdiagnosed, left stranded in the system or had to face unnecessary delays due to the lack of an organised pathway.

Keywords: COVID-19, Pandemic, Healthcare delivery.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Betacoronavirus*
  • COVID-19
  • Coronavirus Infections*
  • Cost of Illness*
  • Delivery of Health Care*
  • Humans
  • Pandemics*
  • Pneumonia, Viral*
  • SARS-CoV-2