An article by PATH on the need and ways for more and better investment in primary health care to achieve universal health coverage.
Primary health care (PHC) has been proven to be the most cost-effective way to improve population health outcomes. Investing in PHC is not only smart, but necessary if we are to achieve universal health coverage (UHC).
Here are three ways (that the article suggests) that financing can help strengthen PHC and bring the world closer to the global goal of UHC by 2030.
- Increasing investment in primary health care
Efficient, evidence-driven spending
- Resource pooling to improve financial risk protection
However, more could have and can still be achieved if these investments are oriented to have a more comprehensive, people-centered approach that is focused on establishing resilient systems for effective service delivery. These systems must include promotion of healthy behaviors, disease prevention, disease detection, and management of illnesses. This is where primary health care comes in.
