Primary health care is viable.

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Health Economics
• Health Policy

Background:

• Selective primary health care strategies are often justified by economic constraints in developing countries.
• The broad primary health care (PHC) approach is questioned due to affordability concerns in developing nations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To challenge the notion that PHC is unaffordable for developing countries under current economic conditions.
• To demonstrate the viability of the PHC approach even with slow economic growth.

Main Methods:

• A simulated case example using representative baseline health expenditure data from developing countries.
• Analysis of health care funding under two annual growth rates (2% and 5%) with specific conditions: no absolute cuts to main services and no new funding sources.
• Examining resource allocation shifts and efficiency savings.

Main Results:

• Substantial increases in funding for priority PHC services are achievable even with slow economic growth.
• Curtailing expenditures in lower-priority services and improving efficiency can redirect funds to PHC.
• The PHC approach is demonstrated as viable under simulated economic growth scenarios.

Conclusions:

• The broad primary health care (PHC) approach remains viable for developing countries, even with limited economic growth.
• Successful PHC implementation requires technical capacity for resource planning and political will for equitable allocation.
• International agencies should support PHC-based national health systems and advocate for economic reforms conducive to PHC.