The research article “To what extent did households in developing countries forgo needed healthcare during the COVID-19 pandemic? Repeated survey estimates from 25 countries in 2020 and 2021,” authored by Jakub Kakietek, Julia Dayton Eberwein, Amanda Kerr, and Nicholas Stacey, published in BMJ Public Health, explores the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on healthcare access in low- and middle-income countries. Using data from 63,000 households across 25 countries, the study highlights the prevalence of forgone healthcare due to disruptions such as mobility restrictions, health system overload, and financial challenges. The findings show that, while various factors contributed to this issue, financial barriers were the most common reason for not obtaining needed care, affecting 42% of households in 2020 and 45% in 2021.
The study reveals that, despite a decrease in forgone care over time, financial protection remains a critical issue. It underscores the need for robust health systems and pandemic preparedness to ensure access to healthcare.