primary health care (phc) became a

CONCEPT OF ,PRIMARY

HEALTH CARE

HEALTH“a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being

and not merely absence of the disease or infirmity”

WHO, 1947

HEALTH FOR ALLAttainment by all people of the world of a level of health that can permit

them to lead a socially and economically productive life. “30th World health assembly, Alma Ata, 1977

Primary health care (PHC) became a core policy for the World Health Organization with the Alma-Ata Declaration in 1978 and the ‘Health-for-All by the

Year 2000’ Program

DISEASE AFFECTS

INCOME JOBPHYSICAL ACTIVITY

ANXIETY

LIFE STYLESOCIAL

CONTACTS

SADNESS

PRIMARY HEALTH “Essential health care based on practical, scientifically sound

and socially acceptable methods and technology made

universally accessible to individuals and families in the community through their full

participation and at a cost that the community and the country can afford to maintain at every stage of their development in

the spirit of self-determination. ”

“WHO, 1978

What is primary health carePrimary health care is essential health care made universally accessible to individuals and

acceptable to them, through full participation and at a cost the community and country can afford

Primary HealthCare is different in each community depending upon Needs of the residents

Availability of health care providersThe communities geographic location

Proximity to other health care services in the area.

Goal: The global goal as stated in the Alma Ata Declaration is Health for All by the year 2000 through self-reliance.

Health begins at home, in schools and in the workplace because it is there where people live and work that health is made or broken.

It also means that people will use better approaches than they do now for preventing diseases and alleviating unavoidable disease and disability and have better ways of growing up, growing old and dying gracefully.

.

It also means that here will be even distribution among the population of

whatever resources for health are available.

It means that essential health services will be accessible to all

individuals and families in an acceptable and affordable way

Levels of Care

Primary health careSecondary health care

Tertiary health care

Characteristics of Primary Health Care

1.Stresses prevention rather than cure. 

2.Relies on home self-help, community participation and technology that the people find acceptable, appropriate and affordable.

3.Combines modern, scientific knowledge and feasible health technology with acceptable, effective traditional healing practices. 

4.Should be shaped around the life patterns of the population.  

5.Should both meet the needs of the local community and be an integral part of the national health care system. 6.Should be formulated and implemented with involvement of the local population

The Basic Requirements for Sound PHC (the 8 A’s and the 3 C’s)

1. Appropriateness2. Availability3. Adequacy4. Accessibility5. Acceptability

6. Affordability7. Assessibility8. Accountability1. Completeness

2. Comprehensiveness3. Continuity

The Four Pillars of Primary Health Care (Principles)

Community Participation: Appropriate Technology

Inter-Sectoral Coordination:

Equitable Distribution

•Strategies

8 Essential Health Services in Primary Health Care (ELEMENTS)

E – Education for Health

L – Locally endemic disease controlE – Expanded program for immunization

M – Maternal and Child Health including responsible parenthood

E – Essential drugs

N – NutritionPromotion of proper nutrition

T – Treatment of communicable and non-communicable diseasesS – Safe water and sanitation

Extended elements of PHCExpanded options of immunization

Reproductive health needsProvision of essential technologies for health

Prevention and control of non communicable diseases

Reasons for slow progress:Insufficient political commitment

Failure to achieve equity in access to all PHC components

Slow socio- economic developmentDifficulty in achieving inter sectoral action for 

HealthUnbalanced distribution of resources

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