Multinational primary health care experiences from the initial wave of the COVID-19 pandemic: A qualitative analysis

To learn from primary health care experts’ experiences from the COVID-19 pandemic across countries. We applied qualitative thematic analysis to open-text responses from a multinational rapid response survey of primary health care experts assessing response to the initial wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. Respondents’ comments focused on three main areas of primary health care response directly influenced by the pandemic: 1) impact on the primary care workforce, including task-shifting responsibilities outside clinician specialty and changes in scope of work, financial strains on practices, and the daily uncertainties and stress of a constantly evolving situation; 2) impact on patient care delivery, both essential care for COVID-19 cases and the non-essential care that was neglected or postponed; 3) and the shift to using new technologies. Primary health care experiences with the COVID-19 pandemic across the globe were similar in their levels of workforce stress, rapid technologic adaptation, and need to pivot delivery strategies, often at the expense of routine care. •Pandemics illuminate weaknesses in healthcare systems for patients and workforce.•Pandemics bring stress, anxiety, leading to burnout, moral injury for workforce.•Primary care clinicians should be effectively utilized during pandemic planning.•Pandemic patient care creates ethical dilemmas for clinicians and policy makers.•Digital health should remain accessible and funded to close patient care gaps.