A pandemic coronavirus infectious disease-2019 (COVID-19) was first originated in
December 2019 in Wuhan, China. The entire world was locked down along with China to
prevent the local transmission and wide geographical spread [1]. On the 30th of January,
2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the COVID-19 as public health emergency
due to the increasing number of cases around the world [2]. The WHO data on 7 May
2020 showed more than 3588700 confirmed and 247500 death cases of COVID-19 around
the world [3]. Taking into account the transmission, morbidity, and mortality of COVID-19,
it is observed that most of the developed countries having advanced healthcare systems
along with using their innovative research have been failed to cope with COVID-19.
On the other hand, developing countries with their struggling and compromised healthcare
system are even failed to record the prevalence of the COVID-19. It is due to the
lack of basic health facilities, unavailability of medical equipment, and the absence
of diagnostic kits [4, 5]. Moreover, infection prevention and control (IPC) programs
are also weak and compromised in developing countries [5].
In the near future, the total number of confirmed cases is expected to increase significantly
in limited resources or developing countries. The weakness of these health-care systems
will lead to major direct and indirect mortality rates [6]. The pandemic outbreaks
are major threats to the economy of countries especially to those countries that are
already bankrupt. This blow to their economy will take many years to recover to the
normal conditions [7]. The COVID-19 was found as a mounting threat to the economy
of the entire world, including the neighbouring developing countries of China i.e.
Pakistan, India, Iran, Afghanistan, and Bangladesh. According to WHO, until 7th May
2020, more than 186040 confirmed and 9000 deaths cases are recorded due to the COVID-19
in these countries [3].
The main objective of the current article is to explore the ill-equipped health care
system and economy of the mentioned five neighbouring countries. Additionally, we
also highlight the expected consequences of COVID-19 on them.
Pakistan: Pakistan is very sensitive to such pandemics and health emergencies because
it lacks, basic health facilities, recommended policies and proper medical equipment
to cope with such outbreaks. The health care system of Pakistan is still in the developing
stage and needs further maintenance and strength [8]. Pakistan is among the top ten
recipients of global remittances in 2019 and received 21.8 billion Pakistani rupees
(136,548,699.24 United States Dollar: US$) foreign remittances, which contributed
to almost 8% of its total gross domestic product (GDP). This flow of remittance helped
the developing countries to reduce poverty, overcome food insecurity, support the
balance of payments, and contribute to national economic growth [9]. It is reported
that up till now more than 1.5 billion people are suffered from the crisis, with an
economic loss of 1.3 trillion US$ [10]. While the natural hazards affected almost
50 million peoples with 80,000 deaths that also lead to another economic loss of 25.5
billion US$ [8]. Global terrorism, political up-downs, and the financial crisis have
also shrunken and de-stabled the economy of the country. Considering, the current
pandemic situation, Pakistan is ill-prepared to cope with it. Furthermore, the poverty
line during this period of crisis is expected to be increased from 60 to 125 million
due to lockdown and unavailability of jobs.
According to the international monetary fund (IMF) and the federal board of revenue
(FBR) of Pakistan, a revenue loss of 300 billion Pakistani rupees is expected due
to the COVID-19. The exports of textile and foodstuff are decreased by 55% and 18%,
respectively due to the cancellation of orders, decrease demands, and continuous locked
down. Similarly, the import of machinery, petroleum, textile, and foodstuff is decreased
by 13%, 27%, 7%, and 9%, respectively. The value of Pakistani currency has decreased
in the market against foreign currencies. According to the World Bank report, 33%
of the population has an income of less than 3.32 US$/day, and 75% of the population
has an income of less than 5.50 US$/day to live [11]. Therefore, Pakistan is expecting
a major blow to his economy and health from this pandemic COVID-19 [12].
India: The Indian health care system is also facing challenges due to its high population,
low investment in the health sector, and privatization. Because of the asymmetric
privatized health care system in comparison to its GDP, it is unable to tackle and
cope with outbreaks like the current pandemic COVID-19 [13]. India is a poor country
with a compromised health care system, it boosts its economy by tourism, as it earns
US$30 billion income per year from the tourism industry which declined when a ban
on traveling took place. Overall economic growth is expected to be decreased due to
the bane on transport, completely locked down, closing of shops and other business
malls, and shutdown of many industries.
The agricultural industry is affected more because of the Chinese import cessation
[14]. The export industry is fully paralyzed due to the stoppage of shipping, cargos,
and flights. Export business is crippled due to moderate collapse in the world supply
chain especially in those destinations interlinked with India such as United States
(US), United Arab Emirates (UAE), United Kingdom (UK), Germany, and China. The warehouses
are full due to the stoppage of export to other countries. The market shares and nifty-fifty
index of the petroleum industry have fallen by 27% and 20%, respectively that has
produced a global panic in the business market [15, 16]. COVID-19 pandemic contributes
to disrupting the economy of India by enlisting it in the top 15 affected economies
of the world [17]. India is unable to cope with such pandemic due to the higher unemployment
ratio and limited health and financial resources.
Iran: Iran is the poorest country among the top ten affected countries with the maximum
number of COVID-19 cases to date. Iran is mostly affected by the pandemic COVID-19
and at the same time, it faces the United States economic sanctions. Its healthcare
system is already compromised and now the sanctions have made it more severe because
of the unavailability of funds. Although, basic medical equipment and medicines are
exempted from the economic bans, the effect of sanctions on trade, manufacturing sector
and also outbreak has restricted the provision of these kinds of stuff [18]. The stock
exchange is fallen by 30% [19]. Lack of basic diagnostic kits and all other means
of treatment and prevention has increased the chances of crisis.
Recently, Iran is suffering from a very troublesome state of economic growth rate.
The economic growth rate is -9.5% and the inflation rate 35.7%, which is the lowest
and highest recorded values respectively in the history of the country. The economic
growth rate is expected to be further reduced by 1.4% due to the COVID-19 outbreak
which can probably lead to economic crumbling and collapse. All these circumstances
have made it unable to properly cope with the COVID-19 [18]. It is clear from the
situation that Iran is more exposed to threatening consequences of the current pandemic
among all the mentioned five neighbouring countries.
Afghanistan: Afghanistan is another neighbouring country of China with an ill-prepared
health care system and structure. Moreover, the number of health care professionals
is very low compared to international recommended standards. He got infected from
COVID-19 due to its neighbor country Iran. It lacks basic health and quarantine facilities
to manage with the current pandemic. According to the global health security index,
it is ill-prepared to cope with the current pandemic outbreak. The poverty line in
Afghanistan is below 55% and it contains one of the weakest economies in the world.
Almost 45,800 and 24,500 people were already suffered from conflicts and disasters
respectively and the economy is in the state of war for decades [20].
The entry of Afghan citizens from Iran will further increase the economic crisis.
Afghanistan has suspended its flights with different countries, which also affected
the aviation industry [21]. According to a report on the Afghanistan economy, the
economic growth rate is expected to collapse further by 10% in the coming future.
The trade and business are more vulnerable at this juncture [22]. The COVID-19 pandemic
seems to be more threatening to Afghanistan due to its weak economy and poor health
care system.
Bangladesh: Bangladesh is a South Asian developing country that suffered a lot due
to COVID-19. The ratio of preexisting disease loads on its weak healthcare system
posing the country to a thrilling challenge in the current pandemic situation. Bangladeshi
garments are accounting for 80% of exports, due to bane on flights, sea ships, cargos
and the locked-down have confined their business to warehouses. An exclusive crash
of 1.8% is expected in exports. Bangladesh is the keen trade partner of China, so
the import of raw materials for manufacturing, machinery, electrical and chemical
equipment is ceased due to the COVID-19 outbreak. The effect of these consequences
will be critical to the Bangladesh economy [23]. Recently due to the COVID-19 outbreak,
the stock exchange has plunged by 5.8% that has induced an ultimate effect on the
country’s economy. The telecom and banking industry faced a loss of 6.2 and 5.8% respectively,
owing to the terrible destruction of Bangladesh's economy with altering magnitude
[24]. Hence, in this terrible situation, Bangladesh will also face risky financial
and health threats.
Conclusion
In a nutshell, the international organizations and developed countries should collaborate
with national agencies of the respective and other lower- and middle-income countries.
The inimical impacts of COVID-19 on health, treatment strategies, welfare, and economics
are likely to be considered in limited-resource countries. Governments in the respective
countries also need to increase amounts allocated to health care for better management.
It is the right time for economic giants both at the global and community level to
address the issue of COVID-19 among the poor population because the world may not
be safe for the rich in the presence of poor carriers.