Eastern Mediterranean health journal = La revue de sante de la Mediterranee orientale = al-Majallah al-sihhiyah li-sharq al-mutawassit · 2025
Maintaining essential non-communicable disease services in the Eastern Mediterranean Region during the COVID-19 pandemic.
СтатьяНазвание и аннотация: Перевод пока не подготовлен
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Alkhalawi Eman, El Berri Hicham, Phyo Pyi Pyi, Hag Eiman, Byström Matilda, Hammerich Asmus
Аннотация
BACKGROUND: Health systems, particularly in low- and middle-income countries, struggled to maintain essential noncommunicable disease services during the COVID-19 pandemic.
AIM: We assessed the extent of disruptions to non-communicable disease services in the Eastern Mediterranean Region during the COVID-19 pandemic, exploring the challenges and mitigation strategies.
METHODS: From October to December 2021, we interviewed WHO country focal points for non-communicable disease from 16 Eastern Mediterranean Region countries and analysed the data.
RESULTS: Emergency and primary care services were disrupted in most of the countries. One country experienced total disruption to primary care while 7 experienced at least 50% disruption. The proportion of fully disrupted essential non-communicable disease services was highest in the lower-middle income countries. Specialized services, including cancer screening and radiotherapy, were more severely affected, while dialysis was relatively well-maintained. The most frequently mentioned reasons for disruption were fear of contagion, staff redeployment to COVID-19 response, lack of access to services due to lockdowns, and cancellation of elective procedures. Two of the mitigation measures were use of telemedicine and community volunteers and home drug delivery.
CONCLUSION: COVID-19 caused disruptions to non-communicable disease services in the Eastern Mediterranean Region, however, some countries implemented measures to mitigate the disruptions. There is a need for long-term, sustainable, integrated and well-coordinated national and regional strategies that will ensure the continuity of non-communicable disease services during emergencies and pandemics.
AIM: We assessed the extent of disruptions to non-communicable disease services in the Eastern Mediterranean Region during the COVID-19 pandemic, exploring the challenges and mitigation strategies.
METHODS: From October to December 2021, we interviewed WHO country focal points for non-communicable disease from 16 Eastern Mediterranean Region countries and analysed the data.
RESULTS: Emergency and primary care services were disrupted in most of the countries. One country experienced total disruption to primary care while 7 experienced at least 50% disruption. The proportion of fully disrupted essential non-communicable disease services was highest in the lower-middle income countries. Specialized services, including cancer screening and radiotherapy, were more severely affected, while dialysis was relatively well-maintained. The most frequently mentioned reasons for disruption were fear of contagion, staff redeployment to COVID-19 response, lack of access to services due to lockdowns, and cancellation of elective procedures. Two of the mitigation measures were use of telemedicine and community volunteers and home drug delivery.
CONCLUSION: COVID-19 caused disruptions to non-communicable disease services in the Eastern Mediterranean Region, however, some countries implemented measures to mitigate the disruptions. There is a need for long-term, sustainable, integrated and well-coordinated national and regional strategies that will ensure the continuity of non-communicable disease services during emergencies and pandemics.