1/5 It usually takes weeks for the benefits of tightening restriction measures, or even a lockdown, to materialize. The current acute Covid bed crisis cannot wait that long. Three issues can have an immediate impact and should be addressed in any plan to regain control of Covid.

2/5 First, hospital dues, and particularly those resulting from caring for Covid patients, should be released quickly. In the current financial situation, private hospitals need money to continue, let alone expand. RHUH has not received any of its Covid dues from the year 2020.

3/5 Second, medical care cannot be delivered without medical supplies. However, suppliers and distributors keep complaining from long delays in processing their payments, and are severely rationing the delivery of essential items. A solution has to be reached promptly.

4/5 Third, and most important, are the healthcare workers. Whether it is due to increasing work demands, decreasing value of their wages, illness especially with Covid, or financial incentives abroad, the HCW are on the brink. They need support or they will break down.

5/5 The resilience of our healthcare system will be severely tested in the coming weeks. We need to address the right questions if we are to wither the storm. Things could have been different, but there is no benefit nor time for crying over spilled milk. Quick action is needed.