COVID–19 Exposes the Need for Public Health Preventive Medicine Physicians: A Proposal for A Gazan PHPM Residency Program

Executive Summary The COVID-19 pandemic exposes the need for public health preventive medicine (PHPM) physicians in Gaza, Palestine. The lack of public health education in Gaza causes its population, physicians included, to be unaware of the necessity of preventative medicine, especially during this pandemic. We propose that the Palestine Medical Council (the Council) implements the following policy steps: 1. Approve the Gaza Medical Reserve Corps (the Reserves) as creators, trainers, and hosts of Gaza’s PHPM residency program; 2. Certify the PHPM board exams, assist in medical education, and issue the specialty license; and 3. Support the Reserve’s efforts to gain financial sustainability and adhere to health laws and ethics. According to Articles 4 and 5 of the Council’s Objectives and Functions, the Council has the authority to execute these steps. In doing so, PHPM physicians will be able to provide Gazans with primary care and telehealth services currently unavailable and relieve overworked physicians who average 113 daily medical consultations. The Reserves currently serve three of PHPM physicians’ four duties: education and outreach, research and development, and public health policy and advocacy. PHPM physicians will not be able to fulfil its fourth duty of providing health services without the Council’s support. By helping establish the PHPM specialty, the Council will assist in strengthening Gaza’s healthcare infrastructure during this critical time, which will, in turn, aid in the betterment of Gaza's overall health.