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Effect of Covid-19 Pandemic on Non-Covid illness in the General population of Pakistan

Aim: The goal of this study was to examine the influence of the Covid-19 pandemic 2020 on the health-seeking behavior of the general public in a lower-middle-income nation like Pakistan by looking at the availability, accessibility, and usage of health infrastructure. Methodology: In this cross-sectional study, 394 Pakistani patients completed an online questionnaire measuring their willingness to seek medical treatment, reporting for follow-up visits, and the ease of getting medical care about their medical condition, both before and after the pandemic. The information was then examined. Results: During the pandemic, 21.8 percent of patients visited a health center for follow-up. Fear of infection from the health institution kept 20.3 percent of patients from showing up for follow-up. 17.5 percent of patients had significant symptoms from their underlying sickness but delayed going to the doctor due to the fear of the virus. Patients' appointments were canceled or rescheduled in 20.1 percent of cases, while 54.1 percent did not feel the need to visit a health center. Conclusion: Fear of the virus, lockdowns, limitations, and other reasons have resulted in a substantial proportion of the population avoiding ER/health facility visits while suffering symptoms that necessitate medical attention. The long-term impact on a developing country's healthcare system, such as Pakistan, will be negative unless extraordinary steps are made to provide safe, accessible, and cheap health care during the epidemic. Keywords: Barrier, comorbidities, COVID-19, healthcare, pandemic