Photo: Ministry of Health, Spain
International symposium hosted by Spain’s Ministry of Health sees the release of two key resources for decision-makers
A high-level international symposium gathered over 1000 participants in Madrid and online to discuss the pivotal role of primary health care (PHC) in health systems and to inform policymakers of best practices for implementation.
Hosted by Spain’s Ministry of Health, with support from the European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies, the WHO Regional Office for Europe and its European Centre for Primary Health Care in Almaty, the symposium underscored Spain's leadership in driving the PHC agenda forward.
"It’s often said that primary health care is the front door of our health care system. We consider it to be the heart of our health care system,” said the Spanish Minister of Health, Monica Garcia, setting the tone for the symposium "Transforming Primary Health Care: from Spain to Europe”.
European experts concurred that PHC is not just about delivering care; it is about fostering health promotion, disease prevention, and community well-being. Other takeaways included PHC as a driver of equity, human rights, and social justice, as well as its role as a cornerstone of social cohesion.
Speakers emphasized that quality PHC requires time, collaboration, specialized training, and investment in professionals. “In this post-COVID era we are competing for resources, so we need to continue to prove that PHC is value for money,” warned Josep Figueras, Director of the European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies.
Zooming into Spain, Melitta Jakab, Director of the WHO European Centre for Primary Care, showed that spending on PHC in Spain has not kept up with increasing challenges: “If pressures remain constant where needs are increasing and people begin to trust in PHC more for biomedical, mental health and social problems, it means we deliver those services at the expense of the health workforce.”
Experiences from 50 countries compiled in new, global Primer
The event marked the release of two significant publications aimed at guiding PHC implementation worldwide. Hans Kluge, WHO Regional Director for Europe, expressed confidence that these publications would serve as “reference materials for WHO member states, providing valuable insights for decision-makers”.
One of the publications, "Implementing the Primary Health Care Approach: A Primer," offers implementation insights gleaned from experiences in 50 countries worldwide. Authored by around 70 experts including researchers, intellectuals and academics from across the globe, the primer is poised to become a foundational resource in the field.
During the symposium, Spain, along with Slovenia, Finland, the Netherlands, and the UK, shared strategies aimed at enhancing PHC. These include person-centered solutions, attention to health care worker retention, task-sharing, the introduction of new roles such as social prescribers, and aligning health spending with outcomes.
Sasa Jenko, Head of the Health Sector at the European Commission’s DG REFORM emphasized that “it’s not all about the money”. The success of PHC transformation lies in aligning stakeholders, political commitment, resources, context and visionary leadership.
With global health leaders, policymakers and experts coming together to share best practices and innovative approaches, the symposium represented a significant step towards realizing the vision of comprehensive, equitable and effective primary health care for all.