Renewing Primary Health Care in the Americas: A Position Paper of the Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO)

Abstract

The process of developing this position paper has helped to invigorate debate about the meaning of health systems and their relationship to other determinants of population health and its equitable distribution in societies. Initial discussions about PHC renewal moved quickly from technical talk about health services to reflection about social values as fundamental determinants of health and health systems. Country consultations and meetings revealed a desire to assure that technical discussions about health policies continue to reflect the real meanings such policies have on the lives of citizens within the Region. This document presents the work of numerous individuals and organizations, and thus, the extent and ambition of its vision reflects the diversity of its architects.The position paper focuses on the core values, principles, and elements likely to be present in a reinvigorated PHC approach, rather than describing an all–encompassing mold into which all countries are expected to fit. Each country will need to find its own way to craft a sustainable strategy for basing their health system more firmly on the PHC approach.