Primary healthcare is the concept of holistic healthcare for all. Instead of disparities between those who have medical aid and those who don’t, primary healthcare offers the same level of care for everyone.
Social Justice
Primary Health Care is about accessibility.
The concept is rooted in equality and the belief that everyone is entitled to the same quality of care, without prejudice.
According to Article 25 of the Universal Declaration on Human Rights: “Everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of himself and of his family, including food, clothing, housing and medical care and necessary social services […]”.
Special conditions
Primary healthcare doesn’t only cover certain ailments, but offers all chronic medication and specialists’ visits as well as promotion and prevention to treatment, rehabilitation and palliative care. Medical aids have exclusionary diseases and conditions, while primary healthcare is a whole-of-society approach to health and well-being centred on the needs and preferences of individuals, families and communities. It addresses the broader determinants of health and focuses on the comprehensive and interrelated aspects of physical, mental and social health and well-being, explains the World Health Organisation.
According to WHO, Primary Healthcare is made up of three components: meeting people’s health needs, systematically addressing the broader determinants of health and empowering individuals, families and communities to optimise their health.
This also includes educating the larger public on hygienic and safe practices.
Intersectoral collaboration
An article on the ‘Principles of Primary Healthcare’ in Live Every Day explains that it is important to recognise that a community’s health and well-being do not depend solely on effective healthcare services. It is a collaborative effort from Governments, businesses and organisations in other sectors. All are equally important in promoting the health and self-reliance of communities.
