Fourth round of the global pulse survey on continuity of essential health services during the COVID-19 pandemic: November 2022–January 2023

Overview

To better understand the extent of health system and essential health service disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, WHO has conducted four rounds of the Pulse survey on continuity of essential health services during the COVID-19 pandemic. This report presents global findings from 139 countries, territories and areas that participated in the fourth survey round during November 2022 – January 2023 (with late submissions accepted until 10 March 2023). The findings offer critical insight from country key informants into the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on essential health services, the main challenges health systems are facing to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic while maintaining other essential health service delivery, and how countries are responding to mitigate disruptions, recover services, and ultimately strengthen health system and services resilience and preparedness for future health emergencies.