Maintaining essential non-communicable disease services in the Eastern Mediterranean Region during the COVID-19 pandemic
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: 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.
Language: English
Subfield: Oncology
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
Funder: World Health Organization
OpenAlex ID: W7117106473