The effect of COVID on our general wellbeing

Medical researchers are still sifting through the global impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Apart from the immediate effects of the disease, it’s clear the pandemic has affected other areas of healthcare.

The National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) says fewer people are utilising preventive and emergency healthcare.

This means chronic conditions are being diagnosed later or not at all.

The big fear is that this will lead to higher rates of chronic disease – and higher death rates.

As the NHMRC says in its Strengthening Australia’s health system post COVID-19 report:

“The literature suggests that the disruption to health service delivery will have a long-lasting impact on chronic health outcomes beyond the COVID-19 pandemic.”

The Lancet Public Health unit says screening and early diagnosis of cancers such as colorectal, breast, prostate, cervical, and melanoma is key to long-term survival.

It warns:

“Delays in screening, diagnosis, and treatment due to the COVID-19 pandemic could lead to excess cancer deaths.”