Examining the impact of Covid-19 pandemic on access to healthcare services

Background and Aim: This study aims to analyze the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on access to healthcare services. It is observed that the pandemic has increased the demand for general health services and the pressure on the system, which has created access problems, especially in different geographies and socioeconomic groups. This situation requires an assessment of the challenges and intervention strategies during the pandemic and focuses on identifying inequalities in access to health services. Material and Methods: The study analyzed healthcare access and utilization data from 2019 and 2020 and assessed changes in this process. The data were divided into six different groups, with each group representing the level of access and utilization of health services. The results obtained using parametric and non-parametric statistical tests revealed whether the changes in the levels of access and utilization of health services during the pandemic process were statistically significant. The sample of the study consists of OECD countries. Results: The study found that the COVID-19 pandemic has significantly affected access to healthcare services in OECD countries. Health service utilization indicators such as visits to physicians and dentists, immunization rates and outpatient treatment numbers have declined. In addition, different trends in the number of surgical procedures were observed across countries. Conclusion: The findings of the study suggest that further research is needed to understand the long-term impact of the pandemic on access to healthcare. It is important to identify the factors affecting access to healthcare services during the pandemic and to develop more sensitive policies and practices in this regard.