National Health Systems Response to COVID-19 Outbreak, Iraq an Example

Alaa Abed,Dhurgham Abdulwahid,Haider Jassim

doi:10.33762/mjbu.2021.130218.1071

Abstract

This article describes chronologically the development of COVID-epidemic in Iraq, mainly Basra Province, and the response of the national and provincial health system response to control this crisis. It points some strengths and weaknesses of this response. In addition, it mentions some of the opportunities that need to get benefit from, including following an evidence-based approach in epidemic control management. Some of the international assessments' results showed that the performance of Iraqi health system come at the tail of the sorted list of international health systems. This necessitates conducting a scientific systematic evaluation to the national performance to precisely quantify structural and process strengths and weaknesses.

Highlights

Basrah Governorate's response to the COVID-19, according to the central task force, formed its own task force led by politicians and administrators, and it lacked public health experts and epidemiologists
The Government has partnered with actors such as Basrah Directorate of Health, Basrah University and nongovernmental organizations, especially the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Iraqi Association for Medical Research and Studies (IAMRS), to support the response efforts for COVID-19 in Iraq
It becomes clear to us that a national plan to train and support the health workforce in the short and long terms is necessary, as priority is given to the medical specialties required in universities, government employment plans, and training programs are set up at the state level to prevent and combat epidemics, in addition to upgrading the technological capabilities of the health system

Summary

Introduction

The sudden emergence of the COVID-19 outbreak in December, 2019 Wuhan, China, had an important role in testing the readiness of countries' health systems worldwide, and measuring their efficiency and speed of response. Basrah Governorate's response to the COVID-19, according to the central task force, formed its own task force led by politicians and administrators, and it lacked public health experts and epidemiologists.

Results

Conclusion