RESUMO
AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT Abstract: The COVID-19 pandemic has revealed pre-existing weaknesses in our healthcare system that have been exacerbated. Efficient and equitable allocation of resources are thus critical now more than ever. Unless we prioritise interventions that that are cost-effective and address the major challenges from both the demand side and the supply side, South Africa will experience increased mortality and morbidity from diseases that have been side-lined in favour of COVID-19. This outcome will obliterate hard-won improvements in life expectancy over the past decade, thwarting any chance of South Africa reaching its SDG 2030 targets. To avert this scenario, the ASSAf Standing Committee on Health urges the National Department of Health: 1. to engage a broad-spectrum of stakeholders without delay 2. to request evidence of the potential trade-offs and the consequent resource implications and 3. to promote a coordinated and collaborative funded research programme that encompasses multiple disciplines for both understanding the health burden complexity and for breakthrough innovations in public health and healthcare