1. There is a discrepancy in public health policies, particularly in terms of their adaptability. There were notable discrepancies in the manner in which public health policies were enacted in response to the epidemic across different countries. For instance, some countries implemented stringent lockdowns and health monitoring measures, while others took a more lenient stance, leading to varying degrees of epidemic control.

⦁ Information transparency: During the height of the pandemic, some countries experienced delays and a lack of transparency in the release of information, which contributed to a rise in public distrust. The lack of transparency has continued to impact public acceptance of policy responses in the post-pandemic period.

2. Insurance coverage challenges

The financial impact of medical expenses

The pandemic has led to a notable surge in medical costs across numerous countries, particularly in the treatment of critically ill patients and those with long-term consequences. Many low-income groups are facing considerable financial challenges, and the insurance coverage currently available often does not meet their specific requirements, which represents a significant barrier to accessing the care they require.

⦁ Equity issues: There are considerable disparities in the availability of insurance coverage among individuals from diverse socioeconomic backgrounds. Moreover, some countries have yet to address the uneven distribution of medical resources in the wake of the pandemic.

3. There have been some controversies surrounding the distribution of vaccines.

One of the primary concerns is ensuring an equitable distribution of vaccines. In the initial stages of vaccine distribution, developed countries were granted priority access to the majority of vaccines, while developing countries encountered supply shortages, further intensifying global health inequalities.

There are inconsistencies in the vaccination rates across different regions. There is considerable variation in vaccination rates across the globe, with factors such as trust, education and access to information among social groups influencing these rates. In some areas, there is still resistance and misunderstanding towards vaccination, which presents a risk to public health.

📚 Research findings

Following an in-depth analysis of the aforementioned issues, this study has reached the following conclusions:

⦁ Public health policy: It is essential that policies are developed with greater flexibility and transparency to enhance public trust and cooperation. Concurrently, the establishment of a more efficient information dissemination mechanism is required to enable policies to be swiftly adapted to changes in the epidemic situation.

⦁ Health insurance coverage: It is essential to guarantee the fairness of the insurance system and implement targeted policies for vulnerable groups to ensure their access to essential medical services and mitigate financial strain.

Vaccination strategies: It is recommended that a global cooperation mechanism be established to address the uneven distribution of vaccines. It is recommended that transparent and reasonable vaccination promotion programmes be established to raise public awareness and willingness to vaccinate in areas with low vaccination rates.