The objective of the online seminar was to provide an overview on the potential impact of COVID-19 on the economy and the healthcare sector in the MENA region. The virtual event began with a presentation by Professor Rym Ayadi. Pr Ayadi presented the latest study elaborated by the Regional Program Political Dialogue South Mediterranean of the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung, in collaboration with the Euro-Mediterranean Economists Association. The participants had the chance to get an insight into the study entitled “How resilient are the healthcare systems in the Mediterranean.”, which covers a regional assessment on the pandemic and policy responses, an assessment of healthcare system resilience and an evaluation of the socio-economic preparedness in the South Med region.
The study presentation was followed by a discussion panel that gathered two experts: Mrs Alia Moubayed, economist and founder of the Association of Women Economists Across the Middle East & North Africa (AWEAMENA) and Mr Yassine Kalboussi, practitioner and director of the Tunisian Centre for Public Health. The experts evaluated, at the regional level, the current situation not only in terms of social and economic spill-over effects of the coronavirus pandemic but also the healthcare systems capacity. During the open discussion section, the speakers received various questions from the participants regarding the possible scenarios upon discovering potential vaccines.