RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Primary healthcare policy implementation in South Asia
JF BMJ Global Health
FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd
SP e000057
DO 10.1136/bmjgh-2016-000057
VO 1
IS 2
A1 Chris van Weel
A1 Ryuki Kassai
A1 Waris Qidwai
A1 Raman Kumar
A1 Kanu Bala
A1 Pramendra Prasad Gupta
A1 Ruvaiz Haniffa
A1 Neelamani Rajapaksa Hewageegana
A1 Thusara Ranasinghe
A1 Michael Kidd
A1 Amanda Howe
YR 2016
UL http://gh.bmj.com/content/1/2/e000057.abstract
AB Primary healthcare is considered an essential feature of health systems to secure population health and contain costs of healthcare while universal health coverage forms a key to secure access to care. This paper is based on a workshop at the 2016 World Organization of Family Doctors (WONCA) South Asia regional conference, where the health systems of Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka were presented in relation to their provision of primary healthcare. The five countries have in recent years improved the health of their populations, but currently face the challenges of non-communicable diseases and ageing populations. Primary healthcare should be a core component in restructuring health systems. However, there is a lack of understanding among policymakers of the unique contribution of primary healthcare to the health of populations. This results in insufficient investment in facilities and low priority of specialty training in the community setting. Regional collaboration could strengthen the advocacy for primary healthcare to policymakers and other stakeholders. Priorities were investment in community-based health facilities, and access to healthcare through professionals specialty-trained in the primary healthcare setting. This development fits the strategy of the WHO South East Asian Region to use community-based healthcare in achieving universal health coverage for the Asian populations.