The World Health Organization (WHO) on Tuesday released a position paper calling on countries and the international community to renew and heighten their commitment to building resilient health systems by integrating universal health cover (UHC) and health security efforts.

"COVID-19 has had wide-ranging health and socioeconomic impacts on all parts of society, leading to setbacks in health gains and efforts to achieve UHC and health security," said the WHO.

The pandemic has hit vulnerable populations particularly hard and made preexisting inequalities further exacerbated, it said, which highlights the need for countries "to take every opportunity to rebuild their health systems sustainably, more equitably and closer to communities."

An integrated approach to building and rebuilding health systems is required to meet the needs of people before, during and after public health emergencies, the WHO added.

The position paper has listed the following seven policy recommendations, for the medium and long term, on building resilient health systems based on primary healthcare:

· Leverage the current response to strengthen both pandemic preparedness and health systems

· Invest in essential public health functions including those needed for all-hazards emergency risk management

· Build a strong primary healthcare foundation

· Invest in institutionalized mechanisms for whole-of-society engagement

· Create and promote enabling environments for research, innovation and learning

· Increase domestic and global investment in health system foundations and all-hazards emergency risk management

· Address pre-existing inequities and the disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on marginalized and vulnerable populations

The WHO said the efforts will also help accelerate the implementation of the International Health Regulations (2005) and the achievement of the health-related Sustainable Development Goals.