BERLIN (AP) – Countries with the least corruption are best able to meet the health and economic challenges of the coronavirus pandemic, according to a close annual study released by an anti-vaccine organization on Thursday was made.
Transparency International’s Corruption Perceptions Index 2020, which measures the perception of corruption in the public sector according to individuals and business people, concluded that countries that had invested more well in healthcare ‘were better able to provide universal health coverage and less likely to violate democratic norms. ”
“COVID-19 is not just a health and economic crisis,” said Delia Ferreira Rubio, head of Transparency. “It’s a corruption crisis – and one we’re not getting right now.”
This year’s index showed that the United States has reached a new low amid a steady decline under the presidency of Donald Trump, with a score of 67 on a scale where 0 “very corrupt” and 100 “very clean “is.
It still equated the U.S. 25th on the list with Chile, but behind many other Western democracies. It dropped from 69 in 2019, 71 in 2018 and 75 in 2017, and was at its lowest level since figures were available for comparison.
“In addition to alleged conflicts of interest and official abuse at the highest level, the poor oversight of the $ 1 billion COVID-19 aid package in 2020 has raised serious concerns and a withdrawal from the long democratic norms that promote accountable government,” the report said Transparency, based in Berlin.
According to the report, the link between corruption and coronavirus reactions has been seen all over the world.
Uruguay, for example, scored 71 and placed it in 21st place on the list. He has invested heavily in healthcare and has a strong epidemiological surveillance system that has not only helped with COVID-19 but also other diseases such as yellow fever and Zika, Transparency said.
By contrast, Bangladesh, which ranks 26th and placed 146th on the list, invests ‘little in health care while corruption thrives during COVID-19, ranging from bribery in health clinics to illegal aid’, Transparency wrote. “Corruption is also common in obtaining medical supplies.”
Even in New Zealand, which ranked No. 1 as the least corrupt country with a score of 88 and was praised for its pandemic response, there was room for improvement, Transparency noted.
“While the government is openly communicating about the measures and policies put in place there, more transparency is needed around public procurement for the recovery of COVID-19,” the organization wrote.
Overall, two thirds of 180 countries surveyed scored less than 50 out of 100 and the average score was 43.
Denmark and New Zealand were tied in the first place because they were the least corrupt, with 88, followed by Finland, Singapore, Switzerland and Sweden with 85, Norway at 84, the Netherlands at 82, and Germany and Luxembourg at 80. to round off the top 10.
Australia, Canada, Hong Kong and Britain all finished 77th in 11th place.
Somalia and South Sudan did the worst with 12 points to place them in 179th place, behind Syria with a score of 14, Yemen and Venezuela at 15, Sudan and Equatorial Guinea with 16, Libya with 17, and North -Korea, Haiti and the Democratic Republic of Congo with 18.
Since 2012, the earliest comparison point using the current method, 26 countries have improved significantly, including Greece, which rose 14 points to 50, Myanmar, which rose 13 points to 28, and Ecuador, which rose 7 points to 39 points. has risen.
At the same time, 22 countries declined significantly, including Lebanon, which dropped 5 points to 25, Malawi and Bosnia and Herzegovina, which both dropped 7 points to 30 and 35 respectively.
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