The Health System Response Monitor (HSRM) has been designed in response to the COVID-19 outbreak to collect and organize up-to-date information on how countries are responding to the crisis. It focuses primarily on the responses of health systems but also captures wider public health initiatives. This is a joint undertaking of the WHO Regional Office for Europe, the European Commission, and the European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies.

P4H Network (05.08.2020) Governments can indeed be very creative in designing schemes for supporting private business: postponing tax collection, reshaping accounting rules, subsiding or tax-exonerating some costs, etc. These schemes and solutions are not developed for the health sector, some could be more favorable to the latter than others. The health sector has indeed some specificities – the important share of manpower in the production function, the non-versatility of infrastructure… and more fundamentally the public mission. The World Health Organization and the International Hospital Federation will partner to identify possible solutions that ensure the future of autonomous hospitals and their best contribution to the Universal Health Coverage (UHC) goal.

The Oxford Supertracker is a global directory of over 100 policy trackers and surveys related to COVID-19. This novel collection is designed to assist researchers and policy-makers in keeping track of a rapidly growing number of data sources. You can search and identify relevant information resources, such as datasets, surveys, and systematic collections, across different areas, countries and data types.

IMF (26.08.2020) In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, many countries have created dedicated extrabudgetary funds (EBFs) to mobilize resources and streamline emergency spending measures. A recently published IMF Note discusses the role these funds can play in the current crisis. The note examines the motivation for setting up EBFs and describes a database of more than 40 funds worldwide compiled by the World Health Organization (WHO). It documents the diverse nature of these funds, discusses the risks that poorly designed funds can pose for public financial management (PFM) and provides guidance on how to design funds to make them efficient, transparent and accountable.

Social Security Administration (18.08.2020) The IRS has extended its deadline to September 30, 2020, for people to provide information to the IRS using its Non-Filer Tool at www.irs.gov/coronavirus/non-filers-enter-payment-info-here. People should do this if they: receive Social Security retirement, survivors, or disability benefits, or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments; did not file a 2019 or 2018 tax return; have a qualifying child under age 17; and did not already enter information in the IRS’ Non-Filer Tool for themselves and at least one child.

Project Syndicate (19.08.2020) COVID-19 has decimated livelihoods worldwide, squeezing the middle class and pushing low-income households into abject poverty. Social-protection programs such as Pakistan's Ehsaas Emergency Cash offer not only a path forward during the pandemic, but also valuable lessons for the future.

who.int (24.07.2020) The COVID-19 pandemic has affected older people disproportionately, especially those living in long-term care facilities. In many countries, evidence shows that more than 40% of COVID-19 related deaths have been linked to long-term care facilities, with figures being as high as 80% in some high-income countries. Concerted action is needed to mitigate the impact across all aspects of long-term care, including home- and community-based care, given that most users and providers of care are those who are vulnerable to severe COVID-19.

brookings.edu (19.08.2020) The financial response to the Covid crisis demonstrated the inability of the federal government to rapidly get money to people during times of crisis. It took between three weeks and three months for Americans to receive a single penny of their emergency impact payments, aka the Covid stimulus.

 Korea Biomedical Review (19.06.2020) The National Health Insurance Service (NHIS) said it would team up with the World Bank to create online content for learning Korea’s experience of running the national health insurance system. At the request of the World Bank, the NIHS has signed a memorandum of understanding with the bank to make the online learning contents about the excellence of the nation’s healthcare coverage and the NIHS’ operation experience, the NIHS said. The two entities will participate in the production of the online content, which aims to support developing countries’ achievement of the universal healthcare coverage in the era of the post-Covid-19, the NHIS said.

Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (21.08.2020) "Kokoronomimi" is a portal site which provides comprehensive information and support for worker's mental health. It provides mental health care counselling services via chat and SNS to people who are anxious or stressed by Covid-19 .

UNSDG  (July 2020) The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed serious fault lines and vulnerabilities in societies, institutions and economies all around the world. The Arab region, home to 436 million people, initially kept transmission and mortality rates lower than the global average but more recent trends are cause for concern, especially in light of fragmented health care and insufficient primary care in many countries. The pandemic has also magnified many decades-long challenges. These include violence and conflict; inequalities; unemployment; poverty; inadequate social safety nets; human rights concerns; insufficiently responsive institutions and governance systems; and an economic model that has not yet met the aspirations of all. The consequences of the pandemic are likely to be deep and long-lasting. 

Development Pathways (2020) The COVID-19 pandemic has triggered a truly global shock: the necessary measures taken to control the spread of the virus have resulted in a major economic and human crisis. The crisis is unprecedented and requires unprecedented measures. By providing families with cash so that national consumption is increased, a fiscal stimulus should enable countries to lower the depth of any recession and, importantly, strengthen the speed of their economic recovery with the potential for higher economic growth.

National Provident Fund (01.04.2020) To support all employers in Fiji, the statutory FNPF employer contribution is halved from 10 percent to 5 percent effective from 1 April 2020 to 31 December 2020. This expected to provide a $130 million relief to employers for the next 9 months. The employee Contribution is reduced from 8 percent to 5 percent effective from 1 April 2020 to 31 December 2020. This will put around $80 million back in the pockets of Fijian employees for the next 9 months.

National Provident Fund (30.03.2020) The Fund has decided to waive renewal certificate submissions for all Pensioners whose certificates were due in March, April, May or June and pay based on the presumption of life. This decision was implemented in light of preventative measures against COVID-19 to discourage our senior members from visiting public open or crowded places. This will be reviewed again in respect of the duration of the public restrictions that are currently in place.

National Provident Fund (10.08.2020) FNPF members who are on reduced hours and reduced wage rate can apply for Phase 3 commencing 10 August 2020. Government top is applicable in Phase 3 for members who have insufficient General Account balance. The amount per member is from $220 to $880 for members who are on reduced working hours/day per week depending on reduced days. The amount is $550 for members whose wage/salary rates per hour is reduced up to 50%, and $1.110 for members whose wage/salary rates per hour is reduced by more than 50%.

National Provident Fund (09.06.2020) FNPF members who have been Unemployed from 1 October 2019 or have just become Unemployed or are on Leave Without Pay can apply for Phase 2 of the COVID-19 Withdrawal Scheme commencing 9 June 2020. The amount is $1,100 (Government top up applicable) or $880 for members who received $220 on 5 June (Fully funded by Government).

National Provident Fund (26.05.2020) More than 7,000 Fiji National Provident Fund pensioners will receive a COVID-19 relief payment today,Tuesday 26 May 2020. The payment, which ranges from $300 to $900, will be disbursed directly to the Fund’s active pensioners. Chief Executive Officer Jaoji Koroi said the Fund was able to provide this one-off payment to pensioners,following amendments to the FNPF Act.

Druk Gyalpo's Relief Kidu (20.07.2020) The Relief Kidu has been extended for three months, from July to September 2020. Bhutanese who have been displaced by the coronavirus pandemic and are currently residing in Bhutan are eligible for the Druk Gyalpo’s Relief Kidu. The displaced group includes those who have been laid off, placed on unpaid leave or on reduced pay from businesses as well as self-employed individuals who have lost their earnings either partially or completely. The Kidu amount has been revised to Nu. 10,000 for the full amount and Nu. 7,000 for the partial amount. Individuals who received Kidu in Phase I (April – June 2020) will have to re-apply and provide additional information.