1. بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم Primary Health Care Basic Concepts

2. Health “A state of complete physical, mental and
social wellbeing and its not merely the
absence of disease or infirmity”
WHO 1946

3. Concepts of health care
Provision of services by health personnel It includes:
Prevention
Diagnosis
Treatment
Rehabilitation
Promotion

4. Levels of Health Care Primary health care Secondary health care
Tertiary health care

5. Levels of Health Care Primary health care
The “first” level of contact between the individual and the health system.
The closest to the people.
Cover all people with essential care.
Addresses the main health problems in the community, providing preventive and curative services.
A majority of prevailing health problems can be satisfactorily managed.
Provided by the primary health centers.

6. Levels of Health Care Secondary health care Tertiary health care
More complex problems are dealt with.
Comprises curative services
Provided by the district hospitals
The 1st referral level
Tertiary health care
Offers super-specialist care
Provided by regional/central level institution.

7. PHC history
PHC appeared as a concept since 1975 in the 25th conference for WHO
Health for All by the year 2000 (Assembly) -1977
International Conference on Primary Health Care (Alma – Ata) -1978

8. PHC history WHA 1977
The 30th World Health Assembly Comes with new philosophies:
• Social justice and equity are essential for health
• Recognition of the role of community participation
• The importance of the political will
• The relation between health and development (health is essential for development and development is essential for health)

9. Health for All
The ideas concluded in the international objective of Health for All
Definition of HFA: Attainment by all peoples of the highest level of health that permit them to lead socially and economically productive life

10. Fundamental Principles for Health for All
Health is fundamental human right and a worldwide social goal
Health is an integral part of development
The existing gross inequality in the health status of people is of common concern to all countries and must be drastically reduced.
People have the right and the duty to participate individually and collectively in the planning and implementation of their health care
Governments have a responsibility for the health of their people
Countries must become self-reliant in health matters.
Fuller and better use must be made of the world’s resources to promote health and development.

11. Alma-Ata Conference (1978)
proclaimed PHC as way to achieving HFA
proclaimed نادى بـ

12. Primary Health Care
It is the first level of contact of individuals, the family and the community with the national health system, bringing health care as close as possible to where people live and work

13. Primary Health Care PHC is 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 community and country can
afford to maintain at every stage of their
development in the spirit of self-reliance
and self-determination.
Alma Ata declaration, 1978

14. Principles of Primary Health Care
1.Equitable Distribution: 
Health services should be available to each and every one in the community – not depend on one’s capability to pay for the services (rich & poor) Rural or urban
2 .Appropriate Technology: 
Appropriate technology is one which is – scientifically sound, adapted to local needs, acceptable to those who apply it and to those on whom it is applied, within the resources which can be afforded by the community and the nation.
Examples of appropriate technology are Oral rehydration therapy DOTS and Immunization programme

15. Principles of Primary Health Care.
Principles of Primary Health Care
3.Inter-Sectoral Coordination: 
in addition to the health sector, all related sectors in particular agriculture, animal , food, industry.
4.Community Participation: 
While most of the efforts in providing health care come from the Ministry of health, the system of primary health care should be based on full participation and involvement of the community in planning, implementation and evaluation.

16. The Basic Requirements for Sound PHC
Appropriateness
Availability
Adequacy
Accessibility
Acceptability
Affordability
Assessability

17. Appropriateness
Appropriate service is provided according to essential human needs, priorities and policies.

18. Adequacy
Sufficient volume of care to meet the need and demand of a community
Adequate attention to all aspects of a medical problem, including prevention, early detection, diagnosis, treatment, follow up measures, and rehabilitation.

19. Affordability
The cost should be within the means and resources of the individual and the country.

20. Accessibility
Geographic, economic, cultural accessibility

21. Acceptability
Acceptability of care depends on a variety of factors, including satisfactory communication between health care providers and the patients, whether the patients trust this care, and whether the patients believe in the confidentiality and privacy of information shared with the providers.

22. Availability
Availability of medical care means that care can be obtained whenever people need it.

23. Assessability
Assessebility means that medical care can be readily evaluated.

24. Main Elements of PHC
Health Education concerning prevailing health problems and the methods of preventing and controlling them;
Promotion of food supply and proper nutrition;
An adequate supply of safe water and basic sanitation.

25. Main Elements of PHC
Maternal and child health care, including family planning
Immunization against the major infectious diseases
Prevention and control of local endemic diseases
Appropriate treatment of common diseases and injuries
Provision of essential drugs

26. (secondary) elements of PHC
• Mental Health • Care of elderly • Occupational Health • School Health • Reproductive Health • Adolescent Health

27. Care of vulnerable groups
Elements of PHC (cont.)
Primary Health Care
Preventive services
Curative services
Outpatient clinic (referral)
General services
Care of vulnerable groups
Laboratory services
Dispensary
Health education
Maternal &child health s.
First aid and emergency
services
Monitoring of environment
School health services
Prev.&control of endemic diseases
Geriatric health services
Occupational health services

28. Primary Health Care - Benefits
PHC focuses on keeping people healthy & addressing illness early so as to increase probability of cure
Individuals have access to appropriate care
Services are matched to community needs
Targeted services will have a positive impact on the utilization of health and social services
Healthy communities with healthy people contribute to a stable economy
PHC is Cost-effective

29. Why PHC is Cost-effective?
Reduces the disease burden. Effectively addressing the most common health needs (70% - 90% of health services).
Produce economic savings. improving family health by prevention, close services and sustainable follow up.
Assure greater equity. Geographically, Financially, and culturally accessible to local communities
Efficient allocation of resources (Spending 1 US$ in PHC saving 10 US$ to the government)
Operationally sound ,cheap and simple knowhow.
Fund raiser tool, attract the community to finance & participate in provision of health services.

30. Comparison between Primary & Secondary health care costs
Country & Maternal health services
PHC level of service provision cost (US$)
Secondary level of service provision cost (US$)
Uganda
Antenatal Care
2.21 $
4.18 $
Vaginal delivery
2.71 $
33.90 $
Malawi
3.23 $
5.48$
10.22 $
24.03 $
Ghana
3.17 $
5.25 $
7.66 $
14.60 $

31. Problems that impede the implementation of PHC in Sudan
The burden of communicable and non-communicable diseases is rising which put more demand on PHC services.
Inequitable distribution of health care services
Shortage of qualified human resources.
4. Inadequate PHC level management capacity.
5. Absence of sustainable financial mechanism for PHC services.
6. The focus of government spending on hospitals leading to an unbalanced health system. Most of the government health expenditure is directed to the secondary and tertiary hospitals

32. Population & Health Expenditure (Inverted Pyramid)
5 % of population
15 % population
80% of population
80% of Health Expenditure
15% of Health Expenditure
5 %Health Expenditure

33. Thank You