Surveillance Preparedness for COVID-19 and Other Infectious Diseases in New Zealand: Embracing Digital Health and Telemedicine in Vast and Isolated Territories
Research Article
Article Title: Surveillance Preparedness for COVID-19 and Other Infectious Diseases in New Zealand: Embracing Digital Health and Telemedicine in Vast and Isolated Territories
The COVID-19 pandemic has underscored the critical importance of robust health crisis preparedness and the integration of digital health technologies. This paper explores the current state and future directions of health crisis preparedness in New Zealand, focusing on surveillance systems for COVID-19 and other infectious diseases. It highlights the role of digital health and telemedicine in managing healthcare delivery in vast and isolated territories. The paper also emphasizes the integration of behavioral economics and behavioral sciences, inspired by the pioneering work of Nobel Prize in Economics Professor Vernon Smith and the legal-economic contributions of Professor Guido Calabresi. It proposes deepening the telemedicine project and ensuring datadriven health decisions using New Zealand’s extensive health data sets as crucial steps towards a more resilient and equitable healthcare system.