- Main challenges and obstacles faced by the Iraqi health system during the pandemic.
| Obstacles | Reasons |
|---|---|
| Sudden flare up in number of patients beyond hospitals capacity | Poor adherence to health instructions and delayed closure of borders with neighboring countries |
| Rapid turnover of decision makers in | Inexperience, panic, overwork, pressure from other governmental unprofessional parties |
| Discredit the role of epidemiologists in controlling the pandemic | |
| Uncertainty in decision making | |
| Miss management due to lack of knowledge about the virus | Lack scientific approach in the treatment (no randomized trials) |
| Depending on passive rather than active surveillance | Overload on HCWs and burden on health system |
| Lack of periodic medical examination for frontline HCWs | Poor planning and deficient experience |
| Weak implementation of vaccination campaigns especially house to house | Poor planning and limited amounts of vaccine |
| Poor public cooperation | Panic, listening to rumors and negative effect of some religious and community leaders |
| Challenges | |
| Shortage of HCWs | Migration of doctors due to the unfavorable security condition |
| Deficient supply of medicines | Domination of certain companies over the governmental supply |
| Problems in maintaining PPE | Lack of national budget |
| Limited bed capacity | old buildings of hospitals with no extension/renovation |
| Insufficient oxygen supply | Depending on oxygen cylinders |
| Inadequate training of HCWs | Lack of continuing medical education |
| Insufficient amount of PCR | Restricted to the Central Laboratory of Ministry of Health |
| Delayed supply of vaccination | Logistic problems |
HCWs: healhtcare workers, PPE: personal protective equipment, PCR: polymerase chain reaction