Preparedness and response of the Palestinian Ministry of Health for COVID-19 pandemic based on World health organization 8 pillars from health policy-makers' perspective in Gaza strip

Abstract

Although the crises become a part of living in Palestine and the Gaza Strip, the Coronavirus disease-2019 pandemic was a special and unfamiliar crisis faced by global healthcare systems generally and the Palestinian healthcare system in particular, especially in light of the extreme shortage of resources and this long period of the continued siege. Aims of the study: The main aim of this study was to assess the preparedness and response of Palestinian MOH for the Coronavirus disease-2019 pandemic based on the World Health Organization's eight pillars from the health policy-makers’ perspective in the Gaza Strip. Methods: A descriptive, exploratory qualitative design was used, the sample size was 25 using a purposeful sampling technique, face-toface semi-structured interviews were employed to collect data, and the directed qualitative content analysis approach was adopted for the analysis of the interview data. Results: The study's results according to the participant’s perspectives revealed that there was good multi-partner coordination, planning, and monitoring between all governmental ministries, the Ministry of Health, and all health services providers in managing the Covid-19 pandemic crisis. The quarantine and the processes of controlling crossings and entry points effectively delayed the uncontrolled spreading of the pandemic and prevented the worst scenario of the pandemic crisis. Unique efforts were made by the Ministry of Health to surge the capacity of hospitals and to continue the other routine and emergency health services of the community during COVID-19