The COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic has substantial health, social, and economic impacts in all countries, rich and poor. It is a sharp reminder that everyone, everywhere should have access to quality and affordable health services. We will be living with COVID-19 and its consequences for a long time to come.

Health systems now face the dual challenge of responding to the outbreak and maintaining essential services. COVID-19 has reignited a debate from previous health emergencies: how to make health systems sufficiently resilient to manage shocks in ways that protect everyone, especially the most vulnerable?  Where do we need to start thinking differently, and what can we do differently, to be better prepared for emergencies and make progress towards univeral health coverage (UHC)? What is the new normal for health systems and UHC? …more