I. Background The foundation of Primary Health Care and its evolution The Thirtieth World Health Assembly in 1977 identified the attainment by all peoples of the world by the year 2000 of a level of health that would permit them to lead socially and economically productive lives as a main social target of governments, international organizations and communities. This was reaffirmed by the International Conference on Primary Health Care in 1978 held in Alma Ata, Kazakhstan in September, 1978.1 The declaration of Alma-Ata formally adopted primary health care as means for providing a comprehensive, universal, equitable and affordable healthcare service for all countries. It was unanimously adopted by all WHO member countries at the Primary Health Care Conference. The conference defined PHC as "essential health care made universally accessible to individuals and families in the community by means acceptable to them, through their full participation and at a cost that the community and the country can afford. The ideology behind Primary Health Care is based on the recognition that health promotion and protection are essential for sustained economic and social development and contribute to better quality of life. PHC is a cost-effective approach and its principles include social-justice, equity, human rights, and universal access to services, community involvement and priority to the most vulnerable and underprivileged.