Temporary primary health care structures in emergencies

Overview

The deployment of prefabricated (‎prefab)‎ modular primary health care (‎PHC)‎ facilities is a crucial strategy for maintaining essential health services during emergencies. These temporary structures effectively address immediate health-care needs while long-term solutions are developed, offering advantages such as rapid deployment, adaptability, scalability and cost–effectiveness. This document presents a systematic assessment, selection, assembly and performance monitoring approach to guide the implementation, use and evaluation of prefab modular PHC facilities during emergencies. It underscores the importance of revitalizing PHC services during crises, emphasizing community engagement and providing practical recommendations for decision makers and health-care providers. Designed in collaboration with the Ukrainian Government and integrated into its national health system and regulatory framework, this approach offers valuable guidance to other ministries of health and stakeholders in rebuilding PHC services during emergencies as well as expansion of services to meet new health needs. By enhancing emergency response efforts, this evidence-based strategy fosters resilience and ensures health system continuity in conflict-affected regions.