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Coronavirus recovery must deliver universal health insurance, safety nets: UNDP

Acharya123himal May 1, 2020

Coronavirus recovery must deliver universal health insurance, safety nets: UNDP

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Kathmandu, April 30

Governments should dramatically overhaul insurance policies and spend money on public well being, financial stimulus, and social security nets to assist nations recuperate quicker from the COVID-19 pandemic, in keeping with a brand new report from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

The financial report warns {that a} patchwork of pre-existing options received’t work and has identified that governments should coordinate with one another to hasten the restoration. This is a world disaster and dealing in silos isn’t an possibility, it says.

The report ‘Position Note on the Social and Economic Impacts of COVID-19 in Asia-Pacific’ has referred to as on nations within the area to keep away from returning to the pre-pandemic environmentally unsustainable improvement path, and to capitalise on the chance to construct a greater future.

It argues for a brand new human rights-based, simply and honest social contract between governments and folks, and advocates for social security nets with a broader attain, common medical insurance, and reasonably priced entry to digital connectivity, as the brand new regular.

“While we should concentrate on the fast wants of a well being disaster, the accompanying financial and social crises additionally want pressing consideration.

These feed on pre-pandemic vulnerabilities that shall be a hearth laborious to include, if not addressed collectively,” Kanni Wignaraja, UN assistant secretary-general and UNDP director of the regional bureau for Asia and the Pacific, has been quoted as saying in a media launch.

“Bold proposals on this report handle the a number of shocks collectively, by proposing a unique set of selections right now to construct a unique tomorrow.”

While each crises are exacting an enormous human toll, with a heavy burden and disaster of care falling disproportionately on the shoulders of girls, the report has referred to as on governments and companies to spend money on constructing extra sustainable and resilient provide chains and to foster round and sharing economies, which can enable us to tread lighter on the setting and ecosystems.

The report has referred to as for insurance policies and actions that instantly strengthen well being methods, to avoid wasting lives and stop the unfold of the virus and advocates for the fast growth of social safety measures, to maintain incomes, particularly for essentially the most affected and weak. Regular public communication of measures taken is a should to strengthen belief of individuals in authorities, the report provides.

Governments will want enormous assets to bolster public well being, for the financial stimulus, and for social security nets, which can place an infinite pressure on budgets.

To meet that problem, the report has requested governments to revise priorities mirrored in finances income, spending and financing.

“Budget revisions could also be painful however are needed, to satisfy this emergency and to include fiscal deficits and surges in public debt, at manageable ranges.”

Given the deeply interconnected nature of the world, the report has burdened that the dual international emergencies, the pandemic and the financial disaster, require a world response.

Global coordination and solidarity are wanted to chart a shared sustainable and resilient improvement path, as no nation will have the ability to pull this off by itself.

A key step is to collaboratively resolve the longstanding situation of so referred to as ‘fiscal termites’ that undermine nationwide budgets: Tax competitors, tax evasion through switch pricing and tax havens, massive fossil gasoline subsidies, and discovering methods to tax the digital economic system.

Further steps embrace restarting commerce in items, at the same time as borders are closed for folks — ranging from important items reminiscent of medical provides and meals; and successfully coordinating the motion of stranded migrants and refugees.