Barbara Starfield advanced academic scholarship on the role of primary care in health systems and universal health coverage. Her research on equity contributed to evidence-informed health policymaking1. On June 10th 2021, we commemorate her 10th death anniversary. Starfield described four attributes of primary care- first contact, continuity of care, comprehensiveness, and coordination – and […]
Tag: primary healthcare
Providing primary care in COVID-19 lockdown to rural, underserved areas of Rajasthan, India
The first case of SARS-COV-2 was reported in India in 30th January 2020. A few months down the line, the Government of India announced a sudden lockdown on 24th March. Following the lockdown, all local transport, private and public, came to a halt, private healthcare providers closed their clinics, and government health facilities significantly […]
Our experience with rapid evidence synthesis: mid-level health providers (MLHPs) for Primary Health Care
What does conducting rapid evidence synthesis for decision making look like? Sandeep Moola shares his experience for developing one on MLHPs for LMICs Historically, mid-level health providers (MLHPs) have been providing diagnostic and clinical services, in high-income countries (HICs) as well as resourced constrained settings in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). They are variously […]
Can digital technology help reinvent primary healthcare in support of universal health coverage?
Achieving universal health coverage (UHC) – quality, accessible, affordable health services for everyone – has been on the global agenda for many years. Still, in the majority of countries it remains a lofty goal requiring ongoing commitment from the global health community on many fronts. Primary healthcare (PHC) has a unique role to play, not […]
The WHO Astana Declaration: Where lies the future of primary health care?
Last week, governments of UN member states, academics and the international health community were hosted by WHO and the Ministry of Health of Kazakhstan in Astana to reaffirm their commitment to universal primary health care. This pledge was first pronounced 40 years ago in Almaty on a Declaration that moulded the way primary healthcare works […]
Extending the Practical Approach to Care Kit to Community Health Workers
It’s a bright spring day with a light breeze carrying at times the fishy odours of a working harbour and at others the salt-fresh clean of the ocean. Across the bay winds the curves of Cape Town’s famous Chapman’s Peak drive. With views like that, this surely be must some of the most valuable real […]