WORLD HEALTH DAY 2023: HEALTH FOR ALL.

Health for All Through the Foundation of Primary Care - PART 1

Globally, there is an increase in financial distress due to spending on unexpected illness. Though the numbers are high, they still don't account for intra-country disparities in health care coverage, especially in places with less than average development, and Nigeria can be said to be one of those countries. The World Health Organization (WHO) aims to raise awareness about this global health issue and work towards achieving Universal Health Coverage with the 2023 World Health Day Theme.

Universal Health Coverage

Each individual has the fundamental right to access quality healthcare services without facing financial difficulties. This means that essential health services should be available to all communities and people, regardless of their income level or social status. These services should cover the full spectrum of health care, including health promotion, disease prevention, diagnosis, treatment, rehabilitation, and palliative care. They also include adequate education and information and involve physical and mental fitness, nutrition and food habits, and all other issues that affect wellness.

This comprehensive approach to healthcare ensures that everyone receives the care they need throughout their entire life course. Unfortunately, many nations still struggle to provide universal access to essential health services, leading to significant differences in healthcare coverage and quality, and financial hardship for individuals and families. Therefore, addressing these inequalities and ensuring universal access to quality healthcare is essential for promoting a resilient health system and global wellbeing.

The Primary Health Care System

Primary Health Care (PHC) is a comprehensive and holistic approach to healthcare that addresses the needs of individuals and communities across their lifespan. It involves the provision of essential health services through a network of trained health workers and volunteers on a community level. Thus, it is the first point of contact between members of society seeking health services and the healthcare system and should be the esteemed as such. That underscores the basis of reorientation of health systems to primary health care as a foundation for Universal Health Coverage.

Evidence shows that the primary health care approach is the most effective and cost-effective way to increasing accessibility of health services. It has benefits including the enablement of integrated access in everyday environments, the prevention of public health crisis, distribution of medications and discoveries in medical breakthroughs. It also aids the adherence to immunization regimens, public health campaigns and advocacy surrounding delicate or poorly understood diseases and health concerns. The most common examples are Local Government clinics and community pharmacies.

Barriers to Effective Primary Health Care Systems.

According to WHO, "Health for All envisions that all people have good health for a fulfilling life in a peaceful, prosperous, and sustainable world." This is based on the organization’s 1948 constitution which they have striven towards attaining for the past 75 years. However, there are some basic elements that constitute a barrier to the achievement of this mandate, based on peculiar limitations in various societies.

• Underfunding: One of the most prevalent barriers to PHC is the issue of funding, which may be a direct result of undervaluing this aspect of healthcare. There is need for investment in providing medication, medical supplies, and adequate staffing to enable a working system. Combating this problem would require the attention of governments to allocate the necessary funds and ensure appropriate channeling.
• Understaffing: Another problem with primary health care is a lack of skilled workers in the system, which results in reduced patronage. Hence, recruiting and training more healthcare workers in the community level is essential, alongside an improvement in the quality of services offered at these centers. That also calls for provision of better incentives through funding for their salaries and allowances.
• Knowledge Gaps: There is also a lack of information and understanding of this system. There may be a fear that the secondary and tertiary healthcare institutions will see less patronage if PHC facilities are well-equipped and standardized, but isn’t that how it ought to be? Those are meant to be for conditions that require a level of specialized care and people should not have to go to a tertiary hospital for something as routine as antenatal care, or basic blood tests.

Consequently, there is a need for reorientation of the role and importance of functional primary health clinics. Besides provision for adequate operations through funding and investment, there needs to be awareness of the necessity of accessibility of essential healthcare services. Thus, building the foundation for achieving the health-oriented SDGs and improving health outcomes on a global scale. As we celebrate the world health day, the public and the professionals have a role to play, and we advocate for a united front in achieving universal health coverage.

References:

World Health Organization. (2021). Primary health care. Retrieved from WHO Fact Sheet on Primary Health Care.

World Health Organization. (2021). Universal health coverage. Retrieved from WHO Fact Sheet on Universal Health Coverage.