New Podcast Episode: Pandemic in the Pacific: Lessons from Across the Tasman Sea

We live in a time when a pandemic threatens to push us further into isolation from each other. But for the heroes on the frontlines of health care, the battle must be met head on with resourcefulness and compassion.

In the next episode of our If/When series of podcasts, we speak with Mark Newsome, director for HealthSolve Limited in New Zealand and Matthew Holmes, Jacobs global director for Healthcare. Mark and Matthew shared their insights on trends and directions in the health service delivery (especially in Australia and New Zealand,) with a view toward what we can learn from the COVID-19 experience. 

According to the World Health Organization, there have been 6,896 confirmed cases and 97 deaths in Australia from January 25 to May 8 (with the majority of confirmed cases occurring between March 15 to April 11); though the number of cases and deaths for New Zealand was on a smaller scale, the majority of its cases occurred in a similar timeframe (March 17 to April 14).

Australia is ranked No. 4 in the world in overall global health security and No. 2 in the category of “Early Detection and Reporting for Epidemics of Potential International Concern,” according to the Global Health Security Index, and of the 195 scored on this index, New Zealand came in at No. 21 in the category of “Rapid Response to and Mitigation of the Spread of an Epidemic.”

Both countries are now potentially over their respective peaks, and while continued diligence is of course required, we can begin to examine their experiences in light of the pandemic and see what lessons may be drawn forth for future preparedness and response.

Here’s a preview – tune in tomorrow and hear the full show with Matthew and Mark: