Science and the COVID-19 recovery fund: The time for public health and international health diplomacy?!

Currently, social and political discussions are dominated by aspects related to the handling of the COVID-19 pandemic. Several approaches for supporting science in times of COVID-19 have been undertaken at the national and supranational level, such as the COVID-19 recovery fund by the European Union. For reducing the global disease burden and the societal burden related to economic crises caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, adequate political and financial support is needed. This is closely related to funding of research and programs for absorbing the adverse effects of the pandemic and the measures introduced to diminish the spread of the disease. This contribution highlights the relevance of public health research and international health diplomacy to evaluate the direct and indirect impacts of COVID-19 on populations health.

Public attention is almost exclusively focused on the rapid spread of SARS-CoV-2 these days. The COVID-19 pandemic impacts on everyday life and reveals interlinkages between areas of interest of various scientific disciplines. It affects not only the healthcare system, but economy and society in general. However, COVID-19 also offers opportunities for reforming science. For slowing down the spread of SARS-CoV-2, close collaboration between natural and social sciences is needed. Public health, a genuinely interdisciplinary area of research and practice, allowing for a combination of basic and applied research, may provide support to overcome the current challenges. In times of COVID-19, the common mantra of public health, which claims for “health in all policies” [1], is needed more than ever to lower both the global disease burden and the societal burden related to economic crises caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. This is closely related to funding of research and programs for absorbing the adverse effects of the pandemic as well as measures introduced to diminish the spread of the disease.

Great efforts have been taken for supporting research in times of COVID-19 starting directly at the beginning of the pandemic. National approaches for research funding in the cause of the COVID-19 pandemic were followed by supranational funding activities – not merely for research, but for the recovery of whole societies. Brown and Ladwig [2] have claimed several failures of the World Health Organization in handling the COVID-19 crisis, highlighting the limits of international health diplomacy. However, further examples are visible, e.g. at the European level. Although the EU agreed to spend €750billion for the COVID-19 recovery fund after a marathon summit in Brussels in July 2020, scientists are disappointed, because only €5 billion have been allocated to research and innovation. A separate health program covers €1.7 billion. Although this is far short of the €9.4 billion earlier proposed by the European Commission [3], this allocation offers several opportunities. Well-performing international health diplomacy necessitates a commitment towards promoting public health – at the local, national, supranational, and global level.

It is mandatory to learn from the current situation and to consolidate systems preparedness for comparable events in the future. Preventing the increase in COVID-19 cases can only be achieved by targeted political interventions (such as immunization, adequate information across various media channels, and responsible implementation of measures of social distancing). However, decision making requires further evidence on the epidemiology of COVID-19, efficacy of immunization and therapies, and non-pharmacological interventions [4]. Science for the society is needed in times of COVID-19 – and has to be funded adequately.

This kind of research needs to go beyond immunization and therapy research, because of urgent questions arising in health services research and nursing sciences. In addition, we do need the wide viewing angle of public health. This begins with a focus on psychological aspects such as risk perceptions of the general public, because these perceptions affect behavior and behavior is responsible for the spread of the virus. Furthermore, research about media appraisal in times of crisis communication is needed for avoiding misperceptions of the public. Research has to consider the adverse social implications which may be caused by lockdowns. For example, closing schools affects education and education ultimately impacts on health of the young generation. Furthermore, visit locks to nursing homes may lead to social isolation and resulting depression [5].

All of these topics are not merely national challenges. Internationally coordinated approaches and collaborations are needed. Science needs cross-cutting, interdisciplinary, multi-professional, and practical approaches – all of these are core principals of public health. Joint forces at local, national, supranational, and global level among research and practice – which is linked to international health diplomacy – are needed to combat the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. One needs to take advantage of the current societal and political attention: Research funding needs to be spent foresighted and coordinated. Furthermore, the distribution of money spent within the COVID-19 recovery fund should be evaluated by its direct or indirect impacts on populations health. One needs to take advantage of the current societal and political attention: The time for strengthening and investing in research in public health is now. And the money allocated by the COVID-19 recovery fund can be a starting-point for doing so.

Author contributions

F.F. drafted the manuscript and approved the final version.

Funding

This research received no external funding.

Conflicts of interest

The author declares no conflict of interest.