Primary healthcare as an enabler for "ending the epidemics" of high-impact communicable diseases

Overview

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) reflect the growing complexity and interdependence of the global development agenda. In the area of health and wellbeing, SDG 3 recognizes the need to build on progress made under the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), while also addressing a much broader range of health challenges – notably noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) and neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) – and doing so in the context of an overarching universal health coverage (UHC1 ) framework (SDG Target 3.8).

Primary health care (PHC) provides the foundation for achieving UHC, helping to advance country-focused, integrated, people-centred health services that place people and communities at the centre of the health system. An integrated, people-centred approach helps to empower people and communities to ensure that the needs of the most vulnerable populations are taken into consideration while moving towards UHC.

This will affect how health services are planned, delivered, monitored and evaluated. PHC strategies that focus on engaging and empowering underserved and marginalized subpopulations are essential for achieving UHC; and these strategies both affect and address broader societal goals such as equity, social justice, solidarity and social cohesion. Also, through multisectoral action, PHC independently contributes to the achievement of other SDGs, reflecting a health in all policies (HiAP) approach.