Overview

Primary health care (PHC) stands as the principal interface between the health system and communities – the locus where the formal health system meshes with people’s lives. More than that, primary health care can shape and reshape health systems to make them more accessible, more integrated and more sustainable.

This Primer or policy textbook synthesizes the global evidence on PHC in one place, with a strong focus on country lessons and implementation as a guide on the “how” of PHC.  The aim is to inspire policy-makers with best practice evidence but also provide insights into challenges which may arise.  The book builds on the tacit knowledge that countries have generated with a more formal research and analysis.

The Primer is organized in three parts:

• Part I explains the PHC approach, its history, core concepts and rationale, and draws out lessons for transformation.
• Part II addresses operational and strategic levers that make PHC work. It covers governance, financing and human resources for health, medicines, health technology, infrastructure and digital health, and their role in implementing change.
• Part III concludes with a cross-cutting view of the impacts of PHC on the health system, efficiency, quality of care, equity, access, financial protection and health systems resilience, including in the face of climate change.