Description:
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.
Source/publisher:
Department of Health, Ministry of Health via WHO SEAR
Date of Publication:
2008-00-00
Date of entry:
2010-11-03
Grouping:
- Individual Documents
Category:
Language:
English