GENEVA: Over one year into the coronavirus pandemic, nearly 90 percent of the world's 105 countries surveyed still report disruptions to their essential health services, the World Health Organization (WHO) said.

In its recent survey,  WHO has analyzed that about 66 percent of countries continue to report health workforce-related reasons as the most common cause of service disruptions, and in nearly one-third of countries supply chains are also still disrupted, affecting the availability of essential medicines, diagnostics and the personal protective equipment (PPE) needed to safely and effectively provide care, as per sources who told a leading international daily

In addition, more than half of the countries surveyed reported service disruptions due to patients not seeking care, because of community mistrust and fears of becoming infected, while 43 percent cited financial challenges as a major cause of the disruption.

Most extensively affected are the health services for mental, neurological and substance use disorders; neglected tropical diseases; tuberculosis; HIV and hepatitis B and C; cancer screening; and services for other non-communicable diseases, including hypertension and diabetes; family planning and contraception; urgent dental care; and malnutrition, according to the survey.

Such disruptions have resulted in millions of people still missing out on vital health care, the WHO said.

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