Primary Health Care Physician

PRIMARY HEALTH CARE PHYSICIAN

Primary Health Care Physician is a physician who practices primary health care.

Definition of Primary Health Care by WHO

“Essential health care made universally available to individuals and families in the community by means acceptable to them, through their full participation and at a cost that the community and country can afford.”

Health care system and socioeconomic development

PHC forms an integral part both of the country’s health system of which it is the nucleus and of the overall social and economic development of the community.

Features

Community participation

vs overdependence on medical doctors

Appropriate technology

vs high-cost and sophisticated technology

Intersectoral linkages

vs. reliance on the government sector or the medical doctor

Partnership Approach

1. active community participation and involvement

2. intersectoral collaboration

3. development and use of appropriate technology to meet local health needs

4. development of support mechanisms to sustain PHC implementation

Essential health care

1. information and education on health

2. proper nutrition

3. water and sanitation

4. maternal and child health

5. immunization

6. prevention and control of endemic diseases

7. treatment of common diseases

8. provision of essential drugs

Aspects of health care

PHC is concerned with the promotive, preventive, curative, palliative, and rehabilitative aspects of health care.

ROJ@17may11