The Importance And Benefit Of Primary Health Care

Primary health care refers to the essential care made accessible to individuals in a community at cost that they can afford. The World Health Organization (WHO) put forward the concept of primary health care that focuses more on the importance of community participation by identifying some of the social, economic, and environmental determinants. It includes the basic services required for meeting ones everyday health care needs like conducting a regular checkup with the family doctor or visiting low-income health clinics.

At its heart, primary health care is about caring for people, rather than simply treating specific diseases or conditions. Primary Health Care is usually the first point of contact people have with health care system. It provides comprehensive, accessible, community-based care that meets the health needs of individuals throughout their life

In 1978, a pivotal conference was held in Almaty, Kazakhstan, bringing together health experts and world leaders to commit to health for all. The declaration of Alma-Ata, endorsed at the conference, formed the foundation for the last 40 years on global primary health care efforts. The Global Conference on Primary Health Care in Astana, Kazakhstan in October 2018 endorsed a new declaration emphasizing the critical role of primary health care around the world. The declaration aims to refocus efforts on primary health care to ensure.

Primary health care centers offers professional medical care for individuals based on a locality or community before shifting them to more advanced hospital-based care like the general specialist and super specialist.  In fact, primary health care forms the vital aspect of a countrys health system while immensely assisting in the socio-economic development of the community. All primary health care clinics tend to focus more on the quality of the service offered while maintaining cost effectiveness.

The clinics that offer primary health care services usually include a team approach that facilities appropriate care to an individual. It has also incorporated some of the latest aspect like the sharing of information among health care providers while focusing on promoting the health, preventing illness, and other chronic conditions. Moreover, primary health care also forges a new connection and participation with the members of a community.

                           ROLE AND BENEFIT OF PRIMARY HEALTH CARE

The main role of primary health care is to provide continuous and comprehensive care to the patients. It also helps in making the patient available with the various social welfare and public health services initiated by the concerned governing babies and other organizations. The other major role of primary role of primary health care center is to offer quality health and social services to the underprivileged sections of society.

As for the benefits of primary health care to the members of a community, it offers the first set of professional care to the patients by incorporating a proactive approach that utilizes several preventive measures, management of chronic diseases, and promoting self-care. Along with that primary health care providers increased accessibility to advanced health care system for the community,which results in excellent health outcomes and prevention of delay.

All primary health care clinics contain a dedicated team of healthcare professionals offering the best medical services. They provide a coordinated approach to the delivery of health care that ensures that the beneficiaries receive the best care from the right health provider.

 Kwakwa Anthony 

University of Cape Coast 

Physician Assistant Level 200