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