Health system, surveillance and the COVID-19 pandemic response in France. / Sistema de saúde e vigilância na França e a resposta à pandemia de COVID-19.

France was the first European country to confirm cases of COVID-19, being one of the most affected by the pandemic in the first wave. This case study analyzed the measures adopted by the country in the fight against COVID-19 in 2020 and 2021, correlating it to the characteristics of its health and surveillance system. As a welfare state, it relied on compensatory policies and protection of the economy, as well as increased investments in health. There were weaknesses in the preparation and delay in the implementation of the coping plan. The response was coordinated by the national executive power, adopting strict lockdowns in the first two waves, mitigating restrictive measures in the other waves, after the increase in vaccination coverage and in the face of population resistance. The country faced problems with testing, case and contact surveillance and patient care, especially in the first wave. It was necessary to modify the health insurance rules to expand coverage, access and better articulation of surveillance actions. It indicates lessons learned about the limits of its social security system, but also the potential of a government with a strong response capacity in the financing of public policies and regulation of other sectors to face the crisis.

A França foi o primeiro país europeu a confirmar casos de COVID-19, sendo um dos mais afetados pela pandemia na primeira onda. Este estudo de caso analisou as medidas adotadas pelo país no enfrentamento à COVID-19 em 2020 e 2021, relacionando com as características de seu sistema de saúde e de vigilância. Como um Estado de bem-estar social, apostou em políticas compensatórias e de proteção da economia, bem como aumentou investimentos em saúde. Houve fragilidade na preparação e atraso na implantação do plano de enfrentamento. A resposta foi coordenada pelo poder Executivo nacional, adotando bloqueios rígidos nas duas primeiras ondas, flexibilizando as medidas restritivas nas demais ondas, após o aumento da cobertura vacinal e diante da resistência da população. Enfrentou problemas com testagem, vigilância dos casos e contatos e assistência aos doentes, principalmente na primeira onda. Necessitou modificar as regras do seguro de saúde para ampliar cobertura, acesso e melhorar a articulação das ações de vigilância. Indica aprendizados sobre os limites do seu sistema de seguro social, mas também as potencialidades de um Estado com capacidade de resposta forte no financiamento de políticas públicas e na regulação dos demais setores para enfrentar a crise.

Sistema de saúde e vigilância na França e a resposta à pandemia de COVID-19 / Health system, surveillance and the COVID-19 pandemic response in France

Resumo A França foi o primeiro país europeu a confirmar casos de COVID-19, sendo um dos mais afetados pela pandemia na primeira onda. Este estudo de caso analisou as medidas adotadas pelo país no enfrentamento à COVID-19 em 2020 e 2021, relacionando com as características de seu sistema de saúde e de vigilância. Como um Estado de bem-estar social, apostou em políticas compensatórias e de proteção da economia, bem como aumentou investimentos em saúde. Houve fragilidade na preparação e atraso na implantação do plano de enfrentamento. A resposta foi coordenada pelo poder Executivo nacional, adotando bloqueios rígidos nas duas primeiras ondas, flexibilizando as medidas restritivas nas demais ondas, após o aumento da cobertura vacinal e diante da resistência da população. Enfrentou problemas com testagem, vigilância dos casos e contatos e assistência aos doentes, principalmente na primeira onda. Necessitou modificar as regras do seguro de saúde para ampliar cobertura, acesso e melhorar a articulação das ações de vigilância. Indica aprendizados sobre os limites do seu sistema de seguro social, mas também as potencialidades de um Estado com capacidade de resposta forte no financiamento de políticas públicas e na regulação dos demais setores para enfrentar a crise.

Abstract France was the first European country to confirm cases of COVID-19, being one of the most affected by the pandemic in the first wave. This case study analyzed the measures adopted by the country in the fight against COVID-19 in 2020 and 2021, correlating it to the characteristics of its health and surveillance system. As a welfare state, it relied on compensatory policies and protection of the economy, as well as increased investments in health. There were weaknesses in the preparation and delay in the implementation of the coping plan. The response was coordinated by the national executive power, adopting strict lockdowns in the first two waves, mitigating restrictive measures in the other waves, after the increase in vaccination coverage and in the face of population resistance. The country faced problems with testing, case and contact surveillance and patient care, especially in the first wave. It was necessary to modify the health insurance rules to expand coverage, access and better articulation of surveillance actions. It indicates lessons learned about the limits of its social security system, but also the potential of a government with a strong response capacity in the financing of public policies and regulation of other sectors to face the crisis.

Employment and working conditions of nurses: where and how health inequalities have increased during the COVID-19 pandemic?

BACKGROUND: Nurses and midwives play a critical role in the provision of care and the optimization of health services resources worldwide, which is particularly relevant during the current COVID-19 pandemic. However, they can only provide quality services if their work environment provides adequate conditions to support them. Today the employment and working conditions of many nurses worldwide are precarious, and the current pandemic has prompted more visibility to the vulnerability to health-damaging factors of nurses' globally. This desk review explores how employment relations, and employment and working conditions may be negatively affecting the health of nurses in countries such as Brazil, Croatia, India, Ireland, Italy, México, Nepal, Spain, and the United Kingdom. MAIN BODY: Nurses' health is influenced by the broader social, economic, and political system and the redistribution of power relations that creates new policies regarding the labour market and the welfare state. The vulnerability faced by nurses is heightened by gender inequalities, in addition to social class, ethnicity/race (and caste), age and migrant status, that are inequality axes that explain why nurses' workers, and often their families, are exposed to multiple risks and/or poorer health. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, informalization of nurses' employment and working conditions were unfair and harmed their health. During COVID-19 pandemic, there is evidence that the employment and working conditions of nurses are associated to poor physical and mental health. CONCLUSION: The protection of nurses' health is paramount. International and national enforceable standards are needed, along with economic and health policies designed to substantially improve employment and working conditions for nurses and work-life balance. More knowledge is needed to understand the pathways and mechanisms on how precariousness might affect nurses' health and monitor the progress towards nurses' health equity.