Healthcare Systems Constraints Affecting Infection Control Practice in the Middle East and Asia
- clientrelations476
- Jun 25
- 5 min read
Written by Jibi Thankachan
The Middle East and Asia represent some of the most diverse regions in the world, each with unique healthcare systems and challenges. Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) in these areas face a variety of hurdles, compounded by factors such as population density, limited resources, and cultural influences. For instance, countries like India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh struggle with high urban congestion, which facilitate the rapid spread of infections. At the same time, nations such as Yemen and Syria face IPC barriers due to ongoing conflicts, war and other disrupting healthcare infrastructure. In Southeast Asia, places like KSA, UAE, and Qatar have contended with high-end healthcare access and resources making infection control efforts much more advanced and effective.
Having worked extensively in KSA, UAE, and the Asian regions, I've observed several recurring challenges, related to infection control and have developed recommendations to strengthen IPC efforts.
Overcrowded Healthcare Facilities: A Critical Challenge
One of the most pressing issues in modern healthcare is overcrowding in hospitals and clinics, particularly in urban centers and developing regions. High patient volumes, coupled with limited resources such as hospital beds, medical equipment, and staff, contribute to long wait times, decreased quality of care, and overburdened healthcare workers. This issue becomes even more critical during health crises like the COVID-19 pandemic when surges in patient numbers strain already stretched facilities. Overcrowding also heightens the risk of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs), as insufficient space and staffing can compromise infection control measures.
What We Can Do:
Expand Healthcare Infrastructure: Governments and private sectors should prioritize investing in hospitals, clinics, and medical equipment to increase capacity and accommodate growing patient needs.
Decentralize Care: Strengthening community health programs, mobile clinics, and home-based care can help manage less critical cases outside hospitals, reducing congestion in major facilities.
Implement Efficient Patient Management Systems: Appointment-based scheduling, telemedicine, and digital health records can streamline patient flow, minimize unnecessary hospital visits, and optimize resource allocation.
Healthcare professionals can access resources for managing overcrowded facilities through the World Health Organization's technical guidance on hospital readiness and patient flow management. These WHO resources provide practical frameworks for implementing triage systems and improving space use even in resource-constrained settings. Additionally, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies offers tool kits for establishing temporary healthcare facilities during surge periods, which can be valuable for facilities experiencing chronic overcrowding.
Limited Resources: Addressing Scarcity in Healthcare Settings
Healthcare facilities, especially in low-income regions, face critical resource shortages. The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that there are insufficient healthcare workers in Sub-Saharan Africa, leading to compromised patient care. South Asian countries like Nepal struggle with treating diseases due to facility and staffing limitations. These deficiencies compromise care quality and endanger both patients and healthcare workers.
What We Can Do:
Establish dedicated infection prevention budgets at national and local levels
Partner with international organizations for sustainable funding and supplies
Develop local production of medical supplies to reduce import dependence and improve availability.
Effective implementation requires collaboration between governments, international organizations, and communities to strengthen healthcare systems in resource-constrained environments. Healthcare professionals can use the WHO’s Core Components for Infection Prevention and Control Programmes for flexible infection prevention frameworks in low-resource settings. The CDC's International Infection Prevention and Control resource center offers cost-effective alternatives to standard equipment and simplified methodologies.
Weak Surveillance Systems: Strengthening Monitoring Capabilities
The lack of robust data collection and reporting systems in many countries hampers the ability to effectively monitor healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) or track cases of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Insufficient or fragmented data leads to significant challenges in understanding the full scope of the problem, making it difficult to target and implement proper control measures. Without reliable surveillance systems, it is impossible to evaluate the effectiveness of infection prevention and control interventions and adjust strategies based on real-time evidence.
What We Can Do:
Develop standardized surveillance systems: Establishing comprehensive, standardized systems for tracking both infections and antimicrobial resistance patterns is critical. This includes defining uniform diagnostic criteria, coding standards, and protocols to ensure data consistency and comparability across regions.
Train healthcare workers: Educating healthcare professionals on the importance of documenting and reporting infections accurately is essential for data quality. Proper training can address the issue of under-reporting and improve the identification of resistant pathogens.
Foster regional collaborations: Encouraging partnerships among neighboring countries or regions can enhance data-sharing practices and improve the coordination of IPC efforts. Collaborative platforms allow for pooling resources and expertise, facilitating the development of cross-border strategies to tackle AMR and reduce the burden of HAIs.
Healthcare professionals looking to improve surveillance systems can access the Global Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance System (GLASS) developed by WHO, which provides standardized protocols and tools for collecting, analyzing, and sharing data on antimicrobial resistance. The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) also offers comprehensive surveillance protocols that can be adapted to various healthcare settings. For facilities with limited technological infrastructure, the CDC's National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) provides simplified paper-based surveillance forms that can later be into electronic systems as resources become available.
About the Author
Jibi Thankachan is a Senior Specialist & Lead Infection Control & AMR Expert with over 14 years of experience in the healthcare sector, spanning Saudi Arabia, the UK, UAE and India. He holds a bachelor’s degree in nursing and has extensive training and expertise in infection prevention and control (IPC), with a Super Specialization in surgical site infection prevention, Advanced Training in hand hygiene strategy management and Expert Specialization in Antimicrobial Stewardship & Resistance.
He has extensive experience in developing and leading comprehensive IPC programs. His expertise spans risk assessment, policy development, antimicrobial stewardship, and performance improvement initiatives across diverse healthcare settings.
He is recognized for his strategic leadership and collaboration skills, having successfully driven quality and cost optimization projects while working with multidisciplinary teams. A passionate educator, Mr. Jibi has designed and delivered impactful training programs, including train-the-trainer initiatives and staff development workshops.
He holds specialized training in antibiotic stewardship and resistance from the University of Leeds and has shared his insights at global platforms, including a keynote at the One Health Approach Conference by the University of Maryland. His work in antimicrobial resistance earned him a place among the top 12 stories in the WHO’s global training initiative.
Mr. Jibi’s research and thought leadership have been widely published in respected outlets such as CM Today, Clean Middle East, IP Insights, and IPC UK. His work has earned accolades across Saudi Arabia, India, the UAE, and the UK. With a commitment to advancing patient safety and infection control, Mr. Jibi continues to be a global voice in public health innovation.
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