A Systematic Review of Successful Experiences of Countries in Strengthening Primary Health Care in Critical Situations: Presenting a Practical Model

Abstract

Introduction: Health systems have obtained valuable experience in dealing with various epidemics. The present study, by systematically reviewing the successful experiences of countries, presents a model for a coordinated response to pandemics by various actors in the primary healthcare system. Methods: Thirty-eight articles were obtained from Magiran, SID, PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar databases after applying the search strategy, inclusion and exclusion criteria, time-bound of 2005 to 2022, and quality assessment by Strobe checklist. The articles were assessed in terms of title, abstract, and text, and after removing duplicate and irrelevant ones, the final articles were selected.Results: This study assumed the PHC system as a leafy tree, which requires 25 background factors to strengthen its roots. Three groups of health policymakers, healthcare providers, and society must carry out the necessary measures in a coordinated and synergistic program in the four phases of crisis management, including prevention, preparedness, response, and recovery.Conclusion: Strengthening PHC in prevention, screening, testing, and outpatient treatment and mobilizing the community to take care of itself are the most successful experiences dealing with epidemics compared to treating patients in hospitals and spending significant financial and life costs.

Keywords

• epidemics
• stakeholder participation
• socioeconomic factors
• primary health care
• hospital medicine