TITLE:
Evidence-Based Policies in Uruguay Are Successful for Tackling COVID-19
AUTHORS:
Lucía Pittaluga, Atilio Deana
KEYWORDS:
Evidence-Based Policy, Knowledge Brokering, Health Policy, Innovation Policy, COVID-19
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Political Science,
Vol.11 No.1,
January
13,
2021
ABSTRACT: During the COVID-19 pandemic, different countries are showing strengths
and weaknesses of both healthcare systems and technology access. Until now in Uruguay,
COVID-19 has been very much under control. Evidence-based policies, a strong
public health care system, and scientific innovations are believed to be the
main factors of success. Uruguayan evidence-based policies consider several
inputs, including scientific, medical-epidemiological, economic, and
educational aspects. A Scientific Advisory Group regularly makes specific
recommendations on health and data science to a team composed of high caliber
figures in the government. This team evaluates and submits the reports and
suggestions to the President of the Republic, for making final decisions
concerning different responses to the pandemic and the economic reactivation.
Designing and implementing such evidence-based policies require a vigorous
scientific community and a government that gives importance to scientific and
technical assessments, and an effective knowledge on brokering mechanisms.