Current burden on healthcare systems in low- and middle-income countries: recommendations for emergency care of COVID-19

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has spread dramatically, thereby increasing the risk of becoming infected. The mortality and morbidity rates of COVID-19 continue to climb each day, putting healthcare systems and healthcare professionals/providers (HCPs) at risk. Currently, the healthcare systems of lowand middle-income countries (LMICs) are unable to cope with these extremely difficult circumstances [1]. Maintaining the safety of HCPs is a key component of every well-operated healthcare system. The COVID-19 pandemic has created a huge workload burden for HCPs, which may lead to exhaustion and mental distress because of factors such as sleep disturbance, increased and lengthy working hours, debilitating fatigue, and the fear of becoming infected and exposing their family members to this potentially lethal infection [2]. HCPs, currently the most treasured national resource in the fight against COVID-19, should be well-protected against this infection [3]. This commentary highlights the COVID-19 burden and current status of healthcare systems and HCPs in LMICs and proposes possible preventive measures to care for HCPs.