Primary Care

Primary care has been defined and studied in well-resourced health care systems, often with reference to physicians specializing in family medicine or general medicine. The relevant programs and services are far more ambitious than the unacceptably restrictive prescriptions for primary care in LMIC.  

In line with the WHO approach we strive that Primary Care:   

• provides a place to which people can bring a wide range of health problems  
• becomes a hub from which patients are guided through the health system 
• facilitates ongoing relationships between patients and clinicians, it builds bridges between personal health care and patients’ families and communities 
• opens opportunities for disease prevention and health promotion as well as early detection of diseases 
• fosters multi- professional team: physicians, nurses, practitioners and assistants with specific medical and social skills 
• allocates adequate resources providing best value for money 

Selected References:  

Primary care. America’s health in a new era. Washington DC, National Academy Press, Institute of Medicine 1996. 

Starfield B. Primary care: balancing health needs, services, and technology. New York, Oxford University Press, 1998. 

WHO, World Health report 2008