In the shadows of the pandemic, a quiet revolution in health management was underway, led by women scientists whose contributions became the backbone of the COVID-19 response.
When the COVID-19 pandemic swept across the globe, the immediate focus rightly landed on the doctors and nurses battling the virus in overwhelmed hospitals. Yet, behind these visible frontlines, another critical response was taking shape—orchestrated by women scientists in specialized fields working tirelessly to rebuild the crumbling infrastructure of health management.
In countries like Bangladesh and Malaysia, these professionals became the unsung architects of pandemic resilience, developing systems that would help navigate the greatest public health crisis in a century. Their work, often conducted far from public view, transformed how health services were delivered during unprecedented times 1 2 .
The COVID-19 response required more than medical expertise—it demanded specialized knowledge at the intersection of technology, equipment, and animal-human health interfaces.
Health informaticians became the data detectives of the pandemic, creating systems to track the virus's spread, manage patient information, and ensure healthcare resources were allocated where they were most needed. In Bangladesh, where the health system faced particular strain, these professionals developed crucial information pathways that helped health managers make sense of the chaos 8 .
Medical physicists ensured that the life-saving equipment used in diagnosis and treatment remained accurate, safe, and effective despite unprecedented demands. As one European study noted, these professionals contributed "health technology assessment, innovation, quality assurance, optimisation in the clinical use of devices, education of healthcare professionals, and risk management"—all functions that became essential ingredients in the clinical response to COVID-19 5 .
Veterinarians brought their unique understanding of zoonotic diseases to the forefront, recognizing that human, animal, and environmental health are inextricably linked. Their expertise in disease surveillance, biosecurity, and food safety became crucial in a pandemic originating from animal-human transmission 3 .
The pandemic created similar challenges across borders, but the responses revealed unique adaptations to local contexts and health systems.
Bangladesh reported its first COVID-19 case on March 8, 2020, recording its first death just ten days later 1 . Between March and November 2020, the country confirmed over 421,921 cases with 6,092 related deaths 1 .
First COVID-19 case reported
First COVID-19 death recorded
Complete lockdown implemented
A qualitative study examining Bangladesh's experience revealed that healthcare providers struggled with unprepared systems, challenges in segregating COVID-19 patients, maintaining isolation and home quarantine, and ensuring continuity of service for non-COVID-19 patients 8 . The limited availability of personal protective equipment and shortage of human resources created additional barriers 8 .
Malaysia took early preventive measures, implementing a Movement Control Order (MCO) on March 18, 2020 1 . This phased approach—moving from strict lockdown to conditional restrictions and finally a recovery phase—allowed the country to gradually adapt to the new normal while controlling transmission 1 .
Research on Malaysia's primary care utilization during the pandemic revealed that outpatient department attendance dropped by nearly 13% at the onset of the first lockdown and continued to decline by almost 24% monthly thereafter 9 . The study also identified urban-rural disparities in how healthcare access was affected, with urban areas in the Central and Eastern Regions showing greater fluctuations in utilization during different pandemic periods 9 .
To understand the real-world challenges women scientists helped address, we can examine a qualitative study conducted with 34 healthcare professionals across 15 districts in Bangladesh 8 .
The study employed key informant interviews with health managers, administrators, and clinicians providing COVID-19 patient care 8 . Participants were selected from both highly affected and less affected areas across all eight administrative divisions of Bangladesh 8 .
With in-person interviews impossible due to social distancing requirements, researchers conducted telephone interviews in Bangla, which were later transcribed and translated into English for analysis 8 . The data was then analyzed thematically to identify recurring challenges and systemic weaknesses 8 .
The research revealed several critical vulnerabilities in the health system's response to COVID-19.
The table below summarizes the key challenges identified by healthcare providers:
| Challenge Category | Specific Issues Reported |
|---|---|
| Health System Preparedness | Unpreparedness for pandemic scale, difficulty segregating COVID-19 patients, challenges maintaining isolation and home quarantine |
| Resource Constraints | Scarcity of ICU beds, limited personal protective equipment, shortage of human resources |
| Service Continuity | Disruption of non-COVID services including maternal and newborn care, decreased immunization coverage |
| Logistical Issues | Difficulties obtaining COVID-19 tests, supply chain disruptions |
| Community Response | Increased aggression from health service seekers, reluctance to follow protocols |
The COVID-19 crisis didn't just test existing systems—it fundamentally transformed several professional fields, creating changes that will likely endure long after the pandemic subsides.
The pandemic triggered a reevaluation of the veterinary profession's contribution to public health. As one editorial noted, "The COVID-19 pandemic is a wake-up call for leaders of the North American veterinary profession," arguing that veterinary professionals constitute an invaluable workforce capable of delivering services essential to weathering the current pandemic and preventing future ones 3 .
The crisis also accelerated the adoption of telemedicine in veterinary care, with the number of veterinarians offering digital or remote consultations increasing by 20% as a result of the pandemic 6 . Almost half (47%) of veterinarians began offering online services, fundamentally changing how pet owners access care for their animals 6 .
The pandemic demonstrated the critical importance of robust health information systems, particularly in resource-limited settings. In Bangladesh, health informaticians had to develop creative solutions for patient tracking, resource allocation, and data management amid system-wide disruptions 1 8 .
Medical physicists played crucial roles in maintaining essential services like radiology, nuclear medicine, and radiation oncology during the pandemic's most critical periods 1 . Their work in quality assurance and equipment optimization ensured that COVID-19 didn't completely disrupt other essential healthcare services, particularly for patients requiring ongoing treatments like radiation therapy for cancer 5 .
The COVID-19 response required specialized tools and approaches across different scientific disciplines.
| Tool or Resource | Function in Pandemic Response |
|---|---|
| Health Information Systems | Tracking cases, managing patient data, resource allocation |
| Telemedicine Platforms | Enabling remote consultations in human and veterinary medicine |
| Personal Protective Equipment | Protecting healthcare workers from infection |
| Testing Infrastructure | Diagnosing COVID-19 cases and tracking spread |
| Data Analysis Capabilities | Interpreting complex pandemic data for decision-making |
| One Health Approaches | Integrating human, animal, and environmental health perspectives |
The COVID-19 pandemic manifested distinct gender dimensions, both in its impacts and in the response.
Women faced disproportionate economic consequences, with an estimated 740 million women employed in the informal sector experiencing severe monetary shortfalls as public spaces were limited to curb viral spread 7 .
In the health sector, women shouldered much of the burden, comprising approximately 70% of health-care workers globally 7 . This overrepresentation placed women at higher infection risk while simultaneously positioning them to drive innovative responses to the crisis 7 .
The pandemic also highlighted the need for greater attention to women's health issues in crisis response. A review of menstrual cycle changes following COVID-19 vaccination found that most studies showed temporary alterations in cycle length, flow, and menstrual pain, underscoring the importance of including women's health tracking in future vaccine trials and health crisis planning 4 .
The contributions of women health informaticians, medical physicists, and veterinarians during the COVID-19 pandemic represent more than just emergency responses—they offer blueprints for more resilient health systems in the future.
Their work demonstrated that effective health management during crises requires diverse expertise that spans human, animal, and technological domains.
Their stories underscore a critical truth: in our interconnected world, health security depends on embracing interdisciplinary approaches and leveraging all available expertise, especially the often-overlooked contributions of women in specialized scientific fields.
The pandemic has revealed both profound vulnerabilities and remarkable resilience in global health systems. By recognizing and building upon the contributions of these women scientists, we can forge a future where health management is more integrated, more equitable, and better prepared for whatever challenges lie ahead.
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