Define primary health care

All people, everywhere, have the right to achieve the highest attainable level of health. This is the fundamental premise of primary health care (PHC). Primary health care is a whole-of-society approach to effectively organize and strengthen national health systems to bring services for health and wellbeing closer to communities. It has 3 components: • integrated health services to meet people’s health needs throughout their lives • addressing the broader determinants of health through multisectoral policy and action • empowering individuals, families and communities to take charge of their own health. Primary health care enables health systems to support a person’s health needs – from health promotion to disease prevention, treatment, rehabilitation, palliative care and more. This strategy also ensures that health care is delivered in a way that is centred on people’s needs and respects their preferences. Primary health care is widely regarded as the most inclusive, equitable and cost-effective way to achieve universal health coverage. It is also key to strengthening the resilience of health systems to prepare for, respond to and recover from shocks and crises. Universal health coverage will only be possible when everyone, everywhere can access the health services they need. Communities should be empowered to identify their health priorities and contribute to finding responsive solutions. Heath care and other sectors need to work together to ensure all decisions affecting...

In recent decades, PHC has been neglected in many countries in favor of a disease-specific approach. This is often due to a combination of lack of political will, under investment, and common misperceptions of the role and benefits of PHC. Political will has advanced greatly with the adoption of the Declaration of Astana. All stakeholders – from government leaders to physicians to members of the public – need to be made aware of the role and benefits of PHC. Some common misperceptions include the notion that PHC only provides “basic” care, when, in fact, PHC provides essential care that can cover the majority of a person’s health needs throughout their lives. Another misperception is that PHC is about maternal and child health – PHC is about health at all ages. PHC involves prevention, health promotion, treatment, rehabilitation, and palliation. Another misperception is that PHC is “cheap” health care for the poor. Because PHC is based in the community, it is frequently the only health care available to poor or marginalized communities, who may not have access to a hospital. Because PHC focuses on the person rather than the disease, it is an approach that moves away from overspecialization. In PHC, the goal is to work through multidisciplinary teams with strong referral systems to secondary and tertiary care when needed. But PHC also goes beyond providing health care services to individuals. It is a whole-of-society approach that seeks to address the broader determinants o...

Staying healthy is more than just going to the doctor when you’re sick. It’s about having a healthcare team that not only addresses your health concerns and illnesses but also takes a proactive approach to help you stay healthy. A Research shows that having access to primary care directly favorably impacts health and wellness outcomes. What Does a Primary Care Physician Do? A primary care physician practices general healthcare, addressing a wide variety of health concerns for patients. They are typically the first person you talk to if you have a health concern. You might turn to them for: • Preventive care (stopping illness before it happens) • Treatment of common illnesses • Early detection of illnesses or conditions (such as • Management of chronic (long-lasting) conditions • A referral to a Many people stay with their primary care doctors for years. Over time, a bond of trust develops and a relationship forms. It is not uncommon for an entire family to go to the same doctor for generations. This allows the doctor to know them not just as a patient file, but as individuals. It’s this familiarity that provides added insight, allowing the doctor to deliver more personal care. Education and Training The educational path for a primary care physician begins with earning an undergraduate degree in pre-med or the sciences from an accredited (approved) school. From there, they begin specific medical training, which involves: • Graduating from an accredited medical school with a...