Core health system measures response to COVID-19 among East Asian countries

TL;DR

This study examines how four East Asian countries responded to the COVID-19 pandemic and evaluates the effectiveness of their health system measures.

Contribution

The paper provides a comparative analysis of health system responses in East Asian countries and highlights lessons for global epidemic control.

Findings

China and Mongolia used containment strategies, while Japan and South Korea used mitigation strategies during the pandemic.

Non-pharmaceutical measures like public information campaigns and contact tracing were crucial in controlling the spread.

Mongolia had the highest total cases per million, while China maintained the lowest.

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to summarize the health system response to COVID-19 in four East Asian countries, analyze the effectiveness of their health system response, and provide lessons for other countries to control the epidemic and optimize their health system response.

This study investigated and summarized COVID-19 data and health system response in four East Asian countries, China, Japan, Mongolia, and South Korea from national governments and ministries of health, WHO country offices, and official websites of international organizations, to assess the effectiveness of health system measures.

As of June 30, 2022, all four countries are in a declining portion of COVID-19. China has two waves, and new cases increased slowly, with the total cases per million remaining within 4, indicating a low level. Japan has experienced six waves, with case growth at an all-time high, total cases per million of 250.994. Mongolia started the epidemic later, but also experienced four waves, with total cases per million of 632.658, the highest of the four countries. South Korea has seen an increasing number of new cases per wave, with a total case per million of 473.759.

In containment strategies adopted by China and Mongolia, and mitigation strategies adopted by Japan and South Korea, health systems have played important roles in COVID-19 prevention and control. While promoting vaccination, countries should pay attention to non-pharmaceutical health system measures, as evidenced by: focusing on public information campaigns to lead public minds; strengthening detection capabilities for early detection and identification; using technical ways to participate in contact tracing, and promoting precise judging isolation.

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