Coronavirus Disease 2019 in 5 Neighboring Limited-Resource Countries: A Financial and Health Threat.

The pandemic infectious coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) first originated in December 2019 in Wuhan, China. The entire world was locked down along with China to prevent local transmission and wide geographical spread. On January 30, 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared COVID-19 a public health emergency because of the increasing number of cases around the world. The WHO data on July 9, 2020 showed more than 11 874 200 confirmed and 545 400 death cases of COVID-19 around the world. Taking into account the transmission, morbidity, and mortality of COVID-19, it is observed that most of the developed countries having advanced healthcare systems along with using their innovative research have failed to cope with COVID-19. On the other hand, developing countries with their struggling and compromised healthcare system have even failed to record the prevalence of COVID-19. It is due to the lack of basic health facilities, unavailability of medical equipment, and absence of diagnostic kits. , Moreover, infection prevention and control programs are also weak and compromised in developing countries.

In the near future, the total number of confirmed cases is expected to increase significantly in limited-resource or developing countries. The weakness of these healthcare systems will lead to major direct and indirect mortality rates. Pandemic outbreaks are major threats to the economy of countries, especially to those countries that are already bankrupt. This blow to their economy will take many years to recover from and return to the normal conditions. COVID-19 was found as a mounting threat to the economy of the entire world, including the neighboring developing countries of China, that is, Pakistan, India, Iran, Afghanistan, and Bangladesh. According to the WHO, as of July 9, 2020, more than 1 462 300 confirmed and 41 300 deaths cases were recorded from COVID-19 in these countries.

The main objective of the current article is to explore the ill-equipped healthcare systems and economies of the mentioned 5 neighboring countries of China. Additionally, we also highlight the expected consequences of COVID-19 on them.

Pakistan

Pakistan is very sensitive to pandemics and health emergencies because it lacks basic health facilities, recommended policies, and proper medical equipment to cope with such outbreaks. The healthcare system of Pakistan is still in the developing stage and needs further maintenance and strength. Pakistan is among the top 10 recipients of global remittances in 2019 and received 21.8 billion Pakistani rupees ($136 548 699.24) in foreign remittances, which contributed to almost 8% of its total gross domestic product. This flow of remittance helped the developing countries to reduce poverty, overcome food insecurity, support the balance of payments, and contribute to national economic growth. It is reported that up until now more than 1.5 billion people are dealing with the crisis, with an economic loss of $1.3 trillion. Natural hazards affected almost 50 million people with 80 000 deaths that also lead to another economic loss of $25.5 billion. Global terrorism, political ups and downs, and the financial crisis have also shrunken and destabilized the economy of the country. Considering the current pandemic situation, Pakistan is ill prepared to cope with it. Furthermore, the poverty line during this period of crisis is expected to increase from 60 to 125 million as a result of the lockdown and job unavailability.

According to the International Monetary Fund and the Federal Board of Revenue of Pakistan, a revenue loss of 300 billion Pakistani rupees is expected as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The exports of textiles and foodstuffs are decreased by 55% and 18%, respectively, owing to a cancellation of orders, decreased demands, and continuous lockdown. Similarly, the import of machinery, petroleum, textiles, and foodstuffs has decreased by 13%, 27%, 7%, and 9%, respectively. The value of Pakistani currency has decreased in the market against foreign currencies. According to a World Bank report, 33% of the population has an income of less than $3.32/day, and 75% of the population has an income of less than $5.50/day to live. Therefore, Pakistan is expecting a major blow to its economy and health from the COVID-19 pandemic.

India

The Indian healthcare system is also facing challenges because of its large population, low investment in the health sector, and privatization. Because of the asymmetric privatized healthcare system compared to its gross domestic product, it is unable to tackle and cope with outbreaks like the current COVID-19 pandemic. India is a poor country with a compromised healthcare system; it boosts its economy by tourism, as it earns $30 billion income per year from the tourism industry, which declined when a ban on traveling took place. Overall economic growth is expected to be decreased due to the ban on transport, complete lockdown, closing of shops and other business malls, and shutdown of many industries.

The agricultural industry is affected more because of the Chinese import cessation. The export industry is paralyzed as a result of the stoppage of shipping, cargos, and flights. Export business is crippled owing to the moderate collapse in the world supply chain, especially in those destinations interlinked with India such as the United States, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, Germany, and China. The warehouses are full because of the stoppage of export to other countries. The market shares and Nifty 50 index of the petroleum industry have fallen by 27% and 20%, respectively, which has produced a global panic in the business market. , The COVID-19 pandemic contributes to disrupting the economy of India by enlisting it in the top 15 affected economies of the world. India is unable to cope with such a pandemic due to its higher unemployment ratio and limited health and financial resources.

Iran

Iran is the poorest country among the top 10 affected countries with the highest number of COVID-19 cases to date. Iran is affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and at the same time it faces US economic sanctions. Its healthcare system is already compromised and now the sanctions have made it more severe because of the unavailability of funds. Although basic medical equipment and medicines are exempted from the economic bans, the effect of sanctions on trade, the manufacturing sector, and also the outbreak has restricted the provision of these materials. The stock exchange has fallen by 30%. Lack of basic diagnostic kits and all other means of treatment and prevention has increased the chances of crisis.

Recently, Iran has suffered from a very troublesome state of its economic growth rate. The economic growth rate is –9.5% and the inflation rate 35.7%, which is the lowest and highest recorded values, respectively, in the history of the country. The economic growth rate is expected to be further reduced by 1.4% as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak, which may lead to economic crumbling and collapse. All these circumstances have made it unable to properly cope with COVID-19. It is clear from the situation that Iran is most exposed to threatening consequences of the current pandemic among the mentioned 5 neighboring countries of China.

Afghanistan

Afghanistan is another neighboring country of China with an ill-prepared healthcare system and structure. Moreover, the number of healthcare professionals is very low compared to international recommended standards. Afghanistan saw infections from COVID-19 because of its neighboring country Iran. It lacks basic health and quarantine facilities to manage the current pandemic. According to the Global Health Security Index, it is ill prepared to cope with the current pandemic outbreak. The poverty line in Afghanistan is below 55%, and it has one of the weakest economies in the world. Almost 45 800 and 24 500 people were already suffering from conflicts and disasters, respectively, and the economy has been in the state of war for decades.

The entry of Afghan citizens from Iran will further increase the economic crisis. Afghanistan has suspended its flights with different countries, which also affected the aviation industry. According to a report on the Afghanistan economy, the economic growth rate is expected to collapse further by 10% in the coming future. Trade and business are more vulnerable at this juncture. The COVID-19 pandemic seems to be more threatening to Afghanistan as a result of the country’s weak economy and poor healthcare system.

Bangladesh

Bangladesh is a South Asian developing country that also faced finacial disabilities as a result of COVID-19. The ratio of preexisting disease loads on its weak healthcare system poses a challenge to the country in the current pandemic situation. Bangladeshi garments accounting for 80% of exports, due to the ban on flights, sea ships, cargos, and the lockdown, have been confined at their businesses in warehouses. An exclusive crash of 1.8% is expected in exports. Bangladesh is a key trade partner of China, so the import of raw materials for manufacturing, machinery, electrical, and chemical equipment is ceased because of the COVID-19 outbreak. The effect of these consequences will be critical to the Bangladesh economy. Recently, as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak, the stock exchange plunged by 5.8%, which has induced an ultimate effect on the country’s economy. The telecom and banking industry faced a loss of 6.2% and 5.8%, respectively, owing to the destruction of Bangladesh’s economy with altering magnitude. Hence, in this terrible situation, Bangladesh will also face risky financial and health threats.

Conclusion

In a nutshell, the international organizations and developed countries should collaborate with national agencies of the respective and other lower- and middle-income countries. The inimical impacts of COVID-19 on health, treatment strategies, welfare, and economics are likely to be considered in limited-resource countries. Governments in the respective countries also need to increase amounts allocated to healthcare for better management. It is the right time for economic giants both at the global and community level to address the issue of COVID-19 among the poor population, because the world may not be safe for the rich in the presence of poor carriers.