Health & Primary Health Care Quiz

Health & Primary Health Care (PHC)

• Objectives: Identify levels of health services and distinguish between primary and secondary services.

Definition of Health

• A state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being, not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.
• A fundamental human right.
• Prevention is better than cure.

Levels of Health Services Delivery

• Primary Health Care
• Secondary Health Care
• Tertiary Health Care

Secondary HC vs. PHC

• Nature: Secondary care is curative, while primary care is preventive and curative.
• Patient Interaction: Primary care deals with both sick and healthy individuals/groups, while secondary care focuses on patients.
• Technology: Primary care doesn't need high technology, unlike secondary care.
• Cost: Primary care is cheaper than secondary care.

From Primary Medical to Primary Health Care (Table 1)

• Conventional: Focuses on illness, cure, episodic problems, specialists, health sector alone, passive reception.
• New: Focuses on health prevention, care, health promotion, continuous care, comprehensive care, intersectoral collaboration, community participation, self responsibility.

Primary Health Care (PHC)

• Definition: The first point of contact with the health system, where most everyday health needs are met.
• Providers: Family physicians, nurses, dietitians, mental health professionals, pharmacists, therapists, and others
• Services: Health promotion, disease prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up of various health conditions. Includes referrals to specialists and diagnostic services (e.g., lab tests, X-rays).

Family Doctors/General Practitioners (GPs)

• Routinely provide primary care services.
• Often the first place patients seek appointments.

Primary Health Care (PHC) - Essential Services

• Essential health care based on practical, scientific methods and technology.
• Universally accessible to individuals and families in the community.
• Community participation and affordable for the community and country.

Secondary Care

• Provided by medical specialists (e.g., cardiologists, urologists, dermatologists).
• Specialists may limit their practice to secondary care by refusing patients who haven't seen a primary care provider first.
• May be required to restrict practice based on payment agreements.

Tertiary Healthcare

• Specialized consultative care.
• Patients are usually referred from primary or secondary care.
• Specialists work in centers with facilities for special investigation and treatment.
• Examples: cancer care, neurosurgery, burns care, plastic surgery.

Ranking and Comparing Countries

• Ranking countries in regard to health is mainly based on PHC indicators.

Declaration of Alma-Ata 1978

• Aims at improving health for all people by 2000.
• Took place after small pox eradication.
• Key principles: Equity, Health as a socio-economic issue, Rights approach to health, Community participation, Government's responsibility, and Intersectoral coordination.

Equity

• The existing gross inequality in the health status between developed and developing countries, and within countries, is politically, socially, and economically unacceptable.

Health as a socio-economic issue

• Basic economic and social development is essential to the fullest attainment of health.
• Promotion and protection of health are essential for sustained economic and social development, and contribute to a better quality of life and world peace.

Rights Approach to Health

• The right and duty of people to participate individually and collectively in the planning and implementation of their healthcare.

Community Participation

• Meaningful involvement of communities in the planning, implementation and maintenance of health services.
• Utilizing local resources effectively (manpower, money, and materials).

Government's Responsibility

• Governments are responsible for the health of their people and should provide adequate health and social measures to fulfill this.
• A main target for governments, international organizations, and the world community is to attain a level of health for all people by 2000 to lead a socially and economically productive life.

Intersectoral Coordination

• Primary healthcare involves cooperation with other sectors (e.g., agriculture, animal husbandry, food, industry, education, housing, public works, communication) to advance development goals.

Health for all the people of the world by the year 2000

Test your knowledge on Health and Primary Health Care concepts. Understand the differences between primary, secondary, and tertiary health services. Explore the definition of health and the importance of prevention in health care.