Abstract

This study is interested in understanding the factors that engender better preparedness of the healthcare systems to meet the enormous medical needs during pandemics and other medical emergencies. The various pandemics the world has known and, especially, the coronavirus pandemic exposed the vulnerability of the various healthcare systems of the world, and caused unprecedented levels of anxiety, uncertainty, and emotional distress, globally. Since pandemics are bound to resurface, and some can be deadlier than coronavirus pandemic, this study explored the factors that engender better preparedness in medical services and in the containment of any diseases during pandemics and medical emergencies. This study proposes that a social-justice-healthcare model is better prepared for the containment of diseases in times of pandemics and medical emergencies. It reviewed and analyzed data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) across the globe, explored most of the major disease pandemics the world has known over the years, and their epidemiological reports. Also, it reviewed some of the major healthcare models in the world to evaluate their levels of preparedness in rendering adequate and efficient medical services and in the containment efforts of the more recent coronavirus pandemic. The findings support the case that healthcare models that promote healthcare for all seem to be better prepared to respond to the medical needs of people such as medical tests, retests, contact tracing, medications, and vaccinations that are required during pandemics and other medical emergencies. This model is in concordance with the social-justice-healthcare-driven model, which advocates for availability, accessibility, and affordability of healthcare for all people. It is a perspective that adequately supports the desired levels of preparedness in rendering adequate and more efficient healthcare delivery and in the containment of diseases during pandemics and other medical emergencies.

Keywords

disease pandemic, vaccine, medical emergency, vulnerable, healthcare systems, minority, equity, social justice