Empowering primary healthcare institutions against COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

Primary health care institutions (PHCIs) are an essential foundation for the national response to COVID-19 disease in India. With the soaring number of confirmed cases, the health system is currently under unprecedented stress. In this scenario, there is a pressing need for empowering PHCIs in COVID-19 preparedness and response. The World Health Organization's (WHO) “Health system building block” approach is a classic model, which can work as a road map for the national health system in the process of empowering PHCIs against COVID-19 as well as other upcoming global and regional public health emergencies.

Preparedness, impacts, and responses of public health emergencies towards health security: qualitative synthesis of evidence

“… Cameroon, Congo, Mali, Nigeria, Iraq, Eastern Medicterrain Region (EMR), Libya, Yemen Constraints in service delivery Lack of trained workforces [ 46 ], failure of coordinated support overburdened hospitals [ 47 ], lack of primary care [ 45 ], high priority of hospitals services [ 48 ], health workforce workload [ 49 , 50 ], an increase of infections [ 15 ], the hotspot of epidemics but blind spot of PHC services [ 28 , 37 ], the spread of Ebola [ 43 ], increase of pre-existing diseases [ 34 ], reduced availability of services [ 45 , 51 ]. Italy, Australia, Brasil, Malawi, SSA, CAR, Ecuador Multiple impacts on building blocks of health systems Inadequacies of service provision [ 47 , 51 , 52 ], isolation, lockdown, restriction [ 53 , 54 ], collateral damage, interruption of service [ 53 , 55 – 58 ], post-disaster disease outbreaks [ 33 , 34 ], shortage of workforce and heavy workload [ 33 , 34 , 47 , 50 , 51 , 55 – 58 ], reliance on short term staff [ 46 ], poor data quality [ 56 ], poor resource coordination and readiness [ 29 , 52 , 59 ], unavailability of digital tools [ 16 , 27 ], poor digital interoperability remote areas [ 60 , 61 ], poor partnerships, inadequate investment [ 56 ], market-oriented health systems [ 62 ], fail...…”

“…Implementation of PHC for equity [ 13 ], mobilisation of frontline workers [ 38 , 59 ], technological innovations [ 55 ], caring for vulnerable populations, and use of information technology [ 55 , 69 ]. Empowering PHC institutions for primary care [ 29 ], developing facility-specific preparedness plans standard operating procedures [ 36 ]. CAR, Brazil, Malawi, Germany, Cameroon, SSA, Liberia, India Multisectoral actions Linkages between policymakers, community based organisations, NGOs, and private sector [ 13 ], community resilience, satisfaction, and confidence [ 16 , 30 ], Engaging stakeholders in planning [ 52 , 64 ], multisectoral actions for prevention of pandemic [ 54 ], community collaborations [ 30 , 70 ], multi-sectoral and comprehensive provincial pandemic and economy [ 56 ], “One Health” approach [ 29 , 63 ], multisectoral actions for non-health sector response [ 71 ], multisectoral coordination, integration of fragmented approaches [ 72 ].…”

Assessing System Performance of Maternal and Child Health Care During Covid-19 Pandemic in Community Health Center- Comoro Dili Timor-Leste

“…A health system-based approach at PHCI must be comprehensive both in terms of treating COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 patients. [25] G…”

“…Delivery of drugs and other products between consumers should be through rationalized prescriptions by medical personnel, so that recommended interventions can be used judiciously. [25]…”

“…Delivery of drugs and other products between consumers should be through rationalized prescriptions by medical personnel, so that recommended interventions can be used judiciously. [25] Information, Communication, and Technology Used for MCH Services: undertaken by China during the rapid rise period. [45] Uptake of telehealth and a shift from inperson care has been a major contributor to maintaining pregnancy care during pandemic restrictions in, New South Wales, Australia.…”