Primary healthcare

What is the main goal of the Primary Health Care (PHC) approach?

To achieve Health for All.

What significant event occurred in 1978 regarding PHC?

The Alma-Ata Conference, which established PHC as a global strategy for health.

What was the purpose of the Lalonde Report (1974)?

To introduce the 'Health Field Concept', emphasizing that health is influenced by biology, environment, lifestyle, and care organization.

What model did China's 'barefoot doctors' represent?

An early model of community-based care for rural populations.

What resolution did the 30th World Health Assembly adopt in 1977?

A target for all people to attain a level of health permitting a socially and economically productive life by the year 2000.

What was declared at the Alma-Ata Conference regarding health?

Health is a fundamental human right and a worldwide social goal requiring action from multiple sectors.

What are the original 8 elements of Primary Health Care as defined by WHO in 1978?

Health education, food and nutrition, water and sanitation, maternal and child health, immunization, endemic disease control, appropriate treatment, and essential drugs.

What are the three additional elements added to PHC in the Philippines?

Mental health, dental/oral health, and non-communicable disease prevention and control.

What are the four pillars of PHC in the Philippines?

Active community participation, intersectoral linkages, appropriate technology, and a functioning support and referral mechanism.

What legal document established the basis for adopting PHC in the Philippines?

Letter of Instruction No. 949, signed by President Ferdinand E. Marcos in 1979.

What was the theme of the Letter of Instruction No. 949?

Health in the Hands of the People by the Year 2020.

What significant health legislation was enacted in 1995 in the Philippines?

RA 7875, which created the modern PhilHealth mandate.

What was the purpose of the Astana Declaration in 2018?

To renew the global commitment to PHC and redefine its role in achieving Universal Health Coverage and health-related SDGs.

What are the three integrated functions of PHC as redefined in Astana?

Primary care and essential public health, multisectoral policy and action, and empowering people and communities.

What does PHC aim to address beyond infectious diseases?

A fuller health picture, including mental health and non-communicable diseases.

What was the significance of the Alma-Ata Declaration's 10 principal points?

They positioned PHC as the central function of a country's health system and part of overall socioeconomic development.

What was the outcome of the 1978 Alma-Ata Conference?

It marked the first global political commitment to primary health care as the strategy for 'Health for All'.

How did the Philippine health system evolve post-1979?

Through various reforms that built on the original PHC foundation, including devolution of health services and universal health care.

What was the focus of the Philippine health reforms in the 2000s?

To reorganize health delivery around primary care and improve financing mechanisms.

What does the term 'Health for All by the Year 2000' refer to?

A goal set in 1977 that aimed for universal health coverage by the year 2000, which was not fully achieved.

What role do community health nurses play in PHC?

They operationalize PHC by engaging with communities and implementing health programs.

What is the significance of intersectoral linkages in PHC?

They promote collaboration among health, agriculture, education, and local government units for comprehensive health care.

What is the importance of appropriate technology in PHC?

It ensures that health interventions are affordable, acceptable, and locally suited to the community's needs.

How does PHC contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)?

By providing a foundation for health-related SDGs and promoting equitable access to health services.

What is the principle of Equitable Distribution in PHC?

Health resources should reach populations regardless of geography or income.

What is the Philippine application of the Equitable Distribution principle?

Automatic PhilHealth enrollment for all Filipinos and programs for Geographically Isolated & Disadvantaged Areas (GIDA).

What does Community Participation mean in the context of PHC?

PHC treats communities as active partners, not passive recipients of care.

How does the Philippines implement Community Participation?

Through Barangay Health Workers (BHWs) and community-based monitoring.

What is the principle of Appropriate Technology in PHC?

Methods must be scientifically sound, affordable, and locally acceptable.

What is an example of Appropriate Technology in the Philippines?

Telemedicine and the Konsulta Package under PhilHealth.

What does Intersectoral Collaboration entail in PHC?

Health outcomes are shaped by sectors beyond health, requiring coordination across government agencies.

How is Intersectoral Collaboration applied in the Philippines?

Through partnerships between DOH and other sectors like education and agriculture.

What is the focus of the Promotion over Cure principle in PHC?

Prioritizing prevention and health promotion, not just treatment.

What is the significance of RA 11223 in the context of PHC?

It mandates automatic PhilHealth enrollment and establishes a two-tier membership system.

What are the current challenges to PHC implementation in the Philippines?

Financing strain, health workforce migration, access gaps, and rising non-communicable diseases.

What was the Supreme Court ruling on PhilHealth funds in December 2025?

The transfer of PhilHealth reserve funds to the National Treasury was ruled unconstitutional.

What role did Barangay Health Workers play during COVID-19?

They became frontline contact tracers and vaccinators.

What is the role of the Community Health Nurse in PHC?

To ensure health education, case finding, referral, and continuity of care across the Health Care Provider Network.

What is the goal of community organizing in PHC?

To mobilize BHWs and local leaders around shared health goals.

What does the term 'Health Care Provider Networks' refer to?

Care organized and referred through a primary-care-anchored network.

What is the importance of community-based response infrastructure?

It proved valuable during health emergencies like COVID-19.

What does 'mHealth tools' refer to in PHC?

Mobile health tools for community health workers, such as SMS reminders and mobile data.

What is the significance of the 2025 Supreme Court ruling for PHC?

It highlights the need for financing protections to support equity and sustained care.

What is the focus of the Universal Health Care Act (RA 11223)?

To provide automatic enrollment and access to health care for all Filipinos.

What are the implications of the digital divide for PHC?

It limits the reach of telehealth and online primary care services.

What does 'self-determination' mean in the context of Community Participation?

People help identify problems and shape solutions in their health care.

What is the role of local health boards in PHC?

To involve community members in health decision-making and program sustainability.

What does 'sustainable at scale' mean in relation to Appropriate Technology?

Technology should be affordable and maintainable while providing quality care.

What is the significance of the 'equity' pillar in PHC?

It ensures fair access to health resources and services for all populations.

What are the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)?

A set of health-specific targets established from 2000 to 2015, focusing on various health issues.

What is the main focus of Sustainable Development Goal 3 (SDG 3)?

Good Health and Well-Being, addressing health issues across multiple dimensions.

What significant change did the 2018 Astana Declaration make regarding primary health care (PHC)?

It explicitly named PHC as the 'driving force' for Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and health-related SDGs.

How did the SDGs differ from the MDGs in terms of health?

The SDGs are broader and interconnected, with health impacting nearly every goal, not just one.

What are the targets under SDG 3 that relate directly to primary health care?

Targets include reducing maternal and child mortality, ending epidemics, and achieving universal health coverage.

Which SDG aims to eliminate poverty and how does it relate to health?

SDG 1 (No Poverty) aims to reduce catastrophic health spending, impacting health access.

What is the relationship between SDG 2 (Zero Hunger) and primary health care?

The nutrition element of PHC supports food security targets under SDG 2.

How does SDG 5 (Gender Equality) connect to primary health care?

Family planning and maternal health initiatives within PHC advance women's autonomy.

What role does SDG 6 (Clean Water & Sanitation) play in primary health care?

It emphasizes the environmental sanitation element of PHC.

How does SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities) relate to primary health care?

The equity pillar of PHC targets population gaps directly.

What is the significance of SDG 17 (Partnerships) in the context of primary health care?

It highlights intersectoral collaboration as a structural principle of PHC.

Which countries are often cited as models for strong primary care systems?

Costa Rica, Brazil, Chile, and Thailand.

What does evidence suggest about countries with strong primary care systems?

They are better positioned to advance the SDGs and outperform hospital-centric systems.

What is the narrative of the Philippine approach to primary health care?

It involves a historical commitment to PHC, operationalized through laws like the Universal Health Care Act.

What challenges does the Philippine health system face regarding primary health care?

Persistent workforce shortages, governance issues, and setbacks from COVID-19.

What is the analytical core of the Philippine narrative on PHC and SDGs?

Progress and setbacks are intertwined in the journey from PHC to SDG implementation.

What are some key principles of primary health care?

Equity, participation, appropriate technology, and intersectoral action.

What is the unfinished agenda regarding health-related SDG targets?

Many targets remain off-track globally, highlighting the need for effective implementation.

What role do nurses play in the PHC-SDG narrative?

Nurses provide direct care, engage in advocacy, and connect local health work to the global agenda.

What was the outcome of the health financing dispute in the Philippines?

It tested the resilience of the health system amidst strong policy frameworks.

What is the significance of the Alma-Ata Declaration?

It established the commitment to essential health care and community participation in 1978.

What does the term 'Universal Health Coverage' (UHC) refer to?

Access to essential health services without financial hardship.

What is the importance of the 2030 Agenda?

It outlines the global commitment to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030.

How does PHC contribute to mental health promotion?

Through initiatives aimed at reducing premature mortality from non-communicable diseases (NCDs).

Why is the narrative of PHC considered one of progress shadowed by fragility?

Challenges in financing, governance, and workforce can undermine policy gains.

What is the role of education in the PHC-SDG narrative for nurses?

It builds understanding of the link between clinical practice and policy outcomes.