Fiscal sustainability challenge and the importance of primary healthcare

Abstract

A wealth of evidence shows that primary healthcare (PHC) can provide healthcare in a more affordable, equitable, efficient, and cost-effective way and improve health outcomes. However, the development of PHC over the past four decades has been hampered by overinvestment in expensive tertiary care. The fiscal sustainability challenge facing health systems has driven political leaders and governments to place PHC at the centre of all efforts to achieve universal health coverage (UHC) and cope with increased demand for healthcare emergent from rapidly ageing population and the growing chronic disease burden. Reorienting health systems towards PHC requires strong political will and commitment as well as the unremitting efforts of governments to develop policies and set priorities for PHC and mobilise adequate funding to support PHC services. More efforts are needed to expand health screening services to reduce the risk of chronic illnesses and strengthen health promotion to make individuals take greater ownership of his/her own health.