COVID-19: the rude awakening for the political elite in low- and middle-income countries

The co-authors of this study, A.M. Viens, PhD, and Oghenowede Eyawo, PhD, are Members of Faculty with the Dahdaleh Institute for Global Health Research and at the School of Global Health, York University.

Summary

• Decades of bad political choices by the elite class has resulted in weakened health systems in many low- and middle-income countries
• The resulting lack of high-quality care and poor health outcomes are typically only borne by those of lower socio-economic standing – with the elites and their families being able to seek care in high-income countries.
• COVID-19 may change all that—a highly transmissible virus and restrictive measures that prevent elites from flying abroad has forced them to depend on an ill-equipped health system at home.
• COVID-19 presents a stark illustration that we are all interconnected; social class, personal status or borders do not help to evade health vulnerability.
• Enlightened self-interest of political elites may finally provide sufficient motivation to invest in an effective and integrated health system.

Citation

Viens AM, Eyawo O. COVID-19: the rude awakening for the political elite in low- and middle-income countries. BMJ Global Health 2020;5:e002807.

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