Protecting frontline healthcare workers should be the top priority in low-resource health systems: Bangladesh and COVID-19

Abstract

In conclusion, the response to COVID-19 does not require consensus. Criticism is perhaps the most precious principle of scientific thinking and practice. By submitting the role of science in responding to COVID-19 to the scrutiny of leading critics of mainstream science, we not only vaccinate our community against nihilistic arguments but also reinforce the human value of research activity. Research and scientific criticism must be exercised aiming to collaborate with public policies and avoiding messages of uncertainty and insecurity to the already sufficiently frightened population. Furthermore, even if we argue that there is no such thing as value-neutral science, 10 we need to move our research away from political and corporate interests. Thus, in an era of extremism, science can rise as the pillar of democracy and as a movement to protect life.