PROVIDING PRIMARY HEALTH CARE IN CONFLICT-AFFECTED SETTINGS

Health systems are among the earliest casualties of conflicts. In this context, primary health care (PHC) plays a crucial role in ensuring continuity of care and acting as a buffer against service delivery’s failure. In this qualitative study, we have examined the situation of PHC in Myanmar conflict-affected setting through semi-structured interviews to Myanmar PHC providers and decision-makers. The interviews, analysed through thematic analysis, allowed to confirm what was evidenced by scientific literature and to highlight some peculiarities. Myanmar healthcare professionals are building alternative routes to provide online and/or frontline PHC. The concentration of PHC workers in liberated areas has allowed the provision of even better PHC than that provided before the conflict. Therein, PHC can be structured to envisage an improvement in the PHC’s system itself when a situation of peace is reached. The study thus provides stakeholders with updated information on the Myanmar’s PHC situation and with practical indications for supporting PHC delivery.