key: cord-0848633-tovzev8i
authors: Koolivand, Ali; Amini, Saeed
title: The importance of PHC-based measures in controlling COVID-19 outbreak: implications for global health system
date: 2020-06-17
journal: Ethics Med Public Health
DOI: 10.1016/j.jemep.2020.100549
sha: d86054fb715af4601efafde8a80cdb6e930db319
doc_id: 848633
cord_uid: tovzev8i

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contagious diseases before many countries, has deployed PHC services, has promoted mother and child health status and has increased life expectancy [3] .

Globally, on the contrary to the PHC principles and WHO guidelines, the PHC system has been replaced by hospitals as the front line of fighting against COVID-19. Hence, physicians and nurses, instead of PHC personnel, provide services for the patients and unfortunately some of hospital providers have died due to exposure with the patients. The key to control COVID-19 is not merely adding ICU and hospital beds and buying advanced hospital equipment, as if the most important healthcare indices are not the number of hospital beds. The key is in the hands of PHC providers who prevent disease deployment and transmission. Since people should simply stay at home, the first line is houses, alleys and streets and hence the first defenders of health are those who decrease the high burden of hospital visiting people. The experience of Iran healthcare system in mobilizing PHC workers to provide a rapid and comprehensive response to COVID-19 and other previous healthcare outbreaks [4], is an indicative of PHC effectiveness and responsiveness and its ability to be replicate in other countries.

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Text book preventive and social medicine

Successful implementation of General Health Policies in the Islamic Republic of Iran: barriers and mechanisms