The outbreak of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has fundamentally changed the natural course of activity of all economic sectors worldwide, as well as the healthcare sector which was deeply influenced. This paper analyzes the relationship between the increased demand for health services during the pandemic and the limited supply of healthcare using the transversal method for some European Union (EU) states. The demand for health services is quantified by the main health indicators during the pandemic compared to the period before the pandemic. Healthcare is analyzed from the perspective of material as well as human resources. The findings indicate that, in most EU countries, there is a gap between the limited supply of healthcare and the magnitude of the demand for health services due to the SARSCov- 2 infection. The results also suggest that in some countries, the gap is more significant than in others due to the measures addressed by the competent authorities, cultural differences and education of the population. The authors investigate possible innovative solutions such as: Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Robotic Process Automation (RPA) for triage systems, 3D-printing technology, healthcare wearables, flexible manufacturing systems and bid data analytics, the use of telemedicine, the scaling of Internet of Thing (IoT) that creates a centralized information system for monitoring, and finally, the use of leadership trainings, courses and competences as a means to adapt fast to different situations. This paper is original because it examines the health crisis in the EU, proposing innovative solutions to prepare the health system to deal with major crises, such as the COVID-19 pandemic.
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