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Review
. 2021 Oct;53(8):102134.
doi: 10.1016/j.aprim.2021.102134. Epub 2021 Jun 12.

[The role of primary care during COVID-19 pandemic: A European overview]

[Article in Spanish]
Sara Ares-Blanco  1 , María Pilar Astier-Peña  2 , Raquel Gómez-Bravo  3 , María Fernández-García  4 , José Miguel Bueno-Ortiz  5
Affiliations
Review

[The role of primary care during COVID-19 pandemic: A European overview]

[Article in Spanish]
Sara Ares-Blanco et al. Aten Primaria. 2021 Oct.

Abstract
in English, Spanish

We describe the role of primary care (PC) in 12 European countries in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic. There is no official information at European level on the activity of PC. The findings were: All countries provided COVID-19 information through telephone lines and websites to their citizens. Contact tracing was mainly carried out by Public Health except for Ireland, Portugal and Spain. The epidemiological surveillance task has overlapped with the PC assistance. Active Infection Diagnostic Tests (AIDT) were performed in PC exclusively in Spain. The other countries performed them in external laboratories. Patients were followed-up in PC mostly by remote assessment. Health coverage for vulnerable populations and nursing homes has been regulated in all countries. There is a need for a strategic plan for PC in Europe that responds to the challenges posed.

Describimos el papel de la atención primaria (AP) en 12 países europeos con relación a la COVID-19. No existe información oficial a nivel europeo sobre la actividad de AP. Los hallazgos fueron:

Todos los países informaron mediante web y línea telefónica COVID-19 a sus ciudadanos.

El rastreo se realizó a través de Salud Pública mayoritariamente, salvo España, Irlanda y Portugal. La tarea de vigilancia epidemiológica se ha solapado con la asistencial sobrecargando la AP.

Las pruebas de detección de infección aguda (PDIA) se realizaron en AP de forma exclusiva en España. En el resto se derivaron a laboratorios externos.

El seguimiento de pacientes ha sido realizado por AP, mayoritariamente no presencial.

La cobertura sanitaria a población vulnerable y a residencias de mayores se ha regulado en todos los países.

Es necesario un plan estratégico para AP en Europa que dé respuesta a los retos planteados.

Keywords: Atención primaria; COVID-19; COVID-19 Testing; Diagnóstico; Europa; Europe; Primary care.

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References

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