Commentary: Look after the pennies

Variable effects

While troubling, the consequences for health will be highly nuanced between countries and among different groups of individuals, and will vary over time. The new pressures should be a spur to fresh thinking on how best to spend scarce resources over the next few years. Studies of previous financial crises—notably in Asia—have shown that short term reductions in basic health services such as child immunisation have contributed to rising infant mortality2; while the overall impact of a downturn can affect mental health and wellbeing.

Calling for substantial extra financial support to the vulnerable, the World Bank recently cautioned that at least 400 000 additional children could die each year as a result of the current crisis.3 The European Union’s health commissioner has warned of the need for vigilance by national ministers of health to avoid a drop in provision …