Eastern Mediterranean Health Journal
Volume 22, Issue 6, 2016, Pages 417-421

Primary healthcare reform in the united nations relief and works agency for Palestine refugees in the near east [Réforme des soins de santé primaires à l’Office de secours et de travaux des Nations Unies pour les réfugiés de Palestine dans le Proche-Orient] (Article) (Open Access)

Santoro A.* , Abu-Rmeileh N. , Khader A. , Seita A. , McKee M.
  • a Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, La Sapienza University, Rome, Italy
  • b Institute of Community and Public Health, Birzeit University, Birzeit, Palestine
  • c United Nation Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East Headquarters, Amman, Jordan
  • d United Nation Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East Headquarters, Amman, Jordan
  • e Faculty of Public Health and Policy, European Centre on Health of Societies in Transition, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom

Abstract

Palestinian refugees served by the United Nation Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) are experiencing increasing rates of diagnosis of non-communicable diseases. In response, in 2011 UNRWA initiated an Agency-wide programme of primary healthcare reform, informed by the Chronic Care Model framework. Health services were reorganized following a family-centred approach, with delivery by multidisciplinary family health teams supported by updated technical advice. An inclusive clinical information system, termed e-Health, was implemented to collect a wide range of health information, with a focus on continuity of treatment. UNRWA was able to bring about these wide-ranging changes within its existing resources, reallocating finances, reforming its payment mechanisms, and modernizing its drug-procurement policies. While specific components of UNRWA’s primary healthcare reform are showing promising results, additional efforts are needed to empower patients further and to strengthen involvement of the community. © 2016, World Health Organization. All rights reserved.

Author Keywords

[No Keywords available]

Index Keywords

patient care mobile phone health care management refugee health care planning health care policy Jordan community care Syrian Arab Republic human Health Behavior Refugees Relief Work Middle East decision support system United Nations Arab purchasing Arabs Palestine Saudi Arabia medical information system Article health care quality Health Care Reform non communicable disease Self Care primary health care finance health care delivery
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84990189384&doi=10.26719%2f2016.22.6.417&partnerID=40&md5=fa332a73f8cb7979732771248f750d0f
DOI: 10.26719/2016.22.6.417
ISSN: 10203397
Cited by: 5
Original Language: English