Background:The development of actual patient referral systems is considered one of the important public health issues in developing countries. Primary health care services will not be benefit without effective procedures in the hospital that support to refer the patients who need special services. The medical health care system in Iraq based on a hospital oriented and capital-intensive model that has limited efficiency and does not have equitable access.Objective: This study was conducted to describe the referral health system in Al-Najaf province, Iraq.Materials and Methods:A cross-sectional study has described the referral health system in Iraq, Al-Najaf province. This study is the first national research has been conducted to describe the referral health system (the pregnant women as an example). The researcher has reviewed a group of studies reported in (Medline, WHO Portal, POPLINE, PubMed) databases that have assessed the referral health system. The medical services for women are provided in an integrated and comprehensive manner covering preventive, promotive and curative aspects of care in a set of phases are (antenatal care, delivery care, postnatal care, family planning and care for the newborn).Outcomes: The referral system in Iraq is classified to three levels are: PHC main centers which is including three categories of PHC (A-approx. 817 centers delivered all the primary health care services), (B-approx. 19 centers includes the same services as a category (A) plus a training place) and(C-approx. 123 centers includes the same services as Class (A) in addition to emergency care services. Second, PHC Subcenters (called Category D) includes 53 centers deliver simple curative services, immunization activities and simple maternal and child health services. Third, Hospitals: Secondary and tertiary care levels are provided by 208 government hospitals, providing 36 057 hospital beds and 80 private hospitals (2 273 beds). Conclusion:Decades of war and sanctions have seriously compromised the function of the health system. There are adequate financial resources, but with a shortage of skills, strategies and human resource development. In addition, the health strategies have failed to link needs, strategic plans, and training programs together.

Communicable diseases represent a severe burden on human life, so control and prevention are essential to maintaining the sustainability of life. Health workers are the first line of defense against these diseases. Poor knowledge and wrong attitudes of health workers can negatively affect efforts to combat infection.The study aims to evaluate the knowledge levels among health workers toward communicable diseases. Also, determine the relationship between dependent and independent variables with participants' levels of knowledge. A cross-sectional analytical study in Al-Sadr Medical City, Najaf Governorate, from mid-November 2021 to the end of June 2022. On 384 health workers who were using a randomly collected self-questionnaire, the data was collected and analyzed using a statistical program. The main results indicate that (66.1%) of the participants are females, the majority of the age group (20-26) years, half of them are married and hold a bachelor's degree, (66.4%) have less than five years of experience, and (35.9%) receive a training course, In terms of profession, (27.3)% were nurses. The results show that (57.2%) had good overall knowledge. it was found that there is a significant relationship between knowledge and training sessions, as for other socio-demographic characteristics, there is no significant association with both knowledge.

Background: Hypertension is one of the major chronic health problems found amongst the vast population of the World. Hypothesis: According to WHO, it is the 10th leading cause of death, and global data indicates that nearly 17 million deaths occur annually due to cardiovascular diseases, amongst which hypertension accounts for more than 7 million. Methods:Its prevalence has been seen most in black people. According to previous studies conducted in all four provinces of Pakistan, hypertension has now become the leading chronic disease affecting not only adults but also children, not only the urban but also the rural population. Result:Its incidence is increasing day by day. In more than 90% of the cases, the exact cause of hypertension is unknown, but certain predisposing factors may contribute to this disease such as excessive use of salt in diet, increased blood cholesterol, obesity, alcohol, smoking, lack of exercise and stress. It is more common in urban than rural populations. Hypertension is the most common risk factor for both cardiovascular diseases and stroke. It may also cause renal impairment and hypertensive retinopathy. If it remains uncontrolled for a long time, then it may cause death. Conclusion: This review is an update regarding the prevalence of hypertension and associated co-morbidities in Pakistan.

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