What is Primary Care? The IOM defines primary care as “the provision of integrated, accessible health care services by clinicians who are accountable for addressing a large majority of personal health care needs, developing a sustained partnership with patients, and practicing in the context of family & community.

Discuss barriers in current PHC service. Identify the most promising & effective approaches to ensuring access to basic care. Explore examples of community-based models that have already proven successful. Help policymakers, leaders& funders recognize the array of opportunities for ensuring access to health care in KSA.

emphasizes the importance of primary health care. provides a critical assessment of health care systems throughout the world, describes how all nations, regardless of national wealth, can benefit by enacting reforms organized around primary health care.

 A strong primary care infrastructure is an essential part of high-functioning health systems in developed countries.  ACP documented over 100 studies that confirm the value of primary care.  Primary care improves health outcomes, increases quality, and reduces health care costs.  Primary care physicians provide 52% of all ambulatory care visits,  80% of patient visits for hypertension, and  69% of visits for both chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and diabetes,

 Primary care physicians make up only one- third of the U.S. physician workforce.  Compelling evidence demonstrates better health outcomes and decreased health care costs when primary care physicians make up over 50% of a nation’s physician supply. American College of Physicians. Solutions to the Challenges Facing Primary Care Medicine. Philadelphia: American College of Physicians; 2009: Policy Monograph.

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