Healthcare Challenges and Service Readiness for Pilgrims with Chronic Diseases During the Arbaeen Pilgrimage in Karbala, Iraq: A Cross-Sectional Study, 2025

Background One of the largest annual religious gatherings in the world is the Arbaeen pilgrimage, which places considerable pressure on the health services for pilgrims with chronic diseases. The health-care obstacles encountered by pilgrims with chronic diseases during Arbaeen in Karbala, Iraq, were delineated, and the success of temporary health-care facilities in meeting these challenges was assessed in this study. Methods A cross-sectional study was carried out during Arbaeen 2025 on pilgrims with chronic diseases and health-care providers working in temporary medical camps within Karbala. The demographics, medication adherence, health-care access, perception of quality of care, and barriers to care were captured by the patient section of the questionnaire. The provider section assessed challenges in managing chronic diseases and the readiness of healthcare outlets. Descriptive statistics were used for analysis Result The study was conducted among 443 pilgrims suffering from chronic diseases and 249 health-care providers. Only 28.9% of patients reported that they carried their medications with them, and up to 86.2% of the patients received their care at the temporary camp. While the care given was rated good by most patients, the barriers were reported by 39.5% of the patients. Overcrowding and transportation were the most frequently reported barriers. Among providers, 72.7% reported that the outlets were fully equipped, while 97.2% confirmed the presence of a functional referral system. Conclusion Temporary medical camps played a central role in supporting pilgrims with chronic diseases during Arbaeen. However, overcrowding and access barriers remain important challenges. Strengthening preparedness, improving accessibility, and ensuring continuity of chronic disease care are essential for future events.