DECLARATION OF ALMA ATA, 1978; A SUMMARY OF PRIMARY HEALTH CARE (PHC)

1. Reaffirms that health is a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being, and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity, and is a fundamental human right.
2. Existing gross inequalities in the health status of the people, particularly between developed and developing countries as well as within countries, is of common concern to all countries.
3. Governments have a responsibility for the health of their people. The people have the right and duty to participate in planning and implementation of their health care.
4. A main social target is the attainment, by all peoples of the world by the year 2000, of a level of health that will permit them to lead a socially and economically productive life.
5. PHC is essential health care based on practical, scientifically sound, and socially acceptable methods and technology.
6. It is the first level of contact of individuals, the family, and the national health system bringing health care as close as possible to where people live and work, as the first element of a continuing health care process.
7. PHC evolves from the conditions and characteristics of the country and its communities, based on the application of social, biomedical, and health services research and public health experience.
8. PHC addresses the main health problems in the community, providing promotive, preventive, curative, and rehabilitative services accordingly.
9. PHC includes the following:
a. Education concerning prevailing health problems and methods ofpreventing and controlling them;
b. Promotion of food supply and proper nutrition;
c. Adequate supply of safe water and basic sanitation;
d. Maternal and child health care, including family planning;
e. Immunization against the major infectious diseases;
f. Prevention of locally endemic diseases;
g. Appropriate treatment of common diseases and injuries;
h. The provision of essential drugs;
i. Relies on all health workers . . . to work as a health team.
10. All governments should formulate national health policies, strategies and plans, mobilize political will and resources, used rationally, to ensure PHC for all people.


Source: Website http://www.who.dk.policy/almaata.htm