Health centers might need government funds to keep their doors open

The COVID-19 pandemic has issued a huge financial blow to many hospitals. Most are at maximum capacity and trying to stretch resources much more widely than usual. They are working much harder and on an emergency timescale, but still can't keep up. In addition, a large portion of the hospital's financial support comes from elective admissions, patients who choose to have surgery done (as opposed to getting sick or injured and needing treatment immediately, such as with COVID-19 patients). Elective admissions tend to be the highest paying portion of the hospital's patients. However, with the pandemic going on, these admissions are very low because people want to limit their hospital exposure. Hospitals are often full of COVID-19 patients and cannot spare resources for elective admissions. Due to this pattern, hospitals are losing large portions of their income during the pandemic.^[1] This financial hardship will take its toll on healthcare facilities, and they will need government funding to continue. Many hospitals are already underfunded and struggling financially. COVID-19 and the lockdown of many services will set hospitals back and they will end up requiring increased government funding for many years to come, even after the pandemic has ended.

[P1] The COVID-19 pandemic has devastated hospitals financially. [P2] COVID-19's lasting impact on healthcare will be a higher reliance on government funding.