Primary health care in the Western Pacific Region : looking back and future directions

Abstract

The Western Pacific Region of the World Health Organization is highly diverse as it is composed of countries with advanced economies, transition economies, and the Pacific island countries and areas (‎PICs)‎. Despite this diversity, the Region is experiencing some common epidemiological, governance and demographic trends which include population ageing and mobility, rapid urbanization, decentralization, persistent inequities despite rapid economic growth, unfinished agendas in reproductive health and infectious disease control, rise of noncommunicable diseases (‎NCDs)‎ and increased environmental threats. Balanced against these threats are opportunities presented by the revitalization of the primary health care (‎PHC)‎ values of equity and social solidarity, through a renewed regional focus on the values of PHC as part of a multisectoral commitment to universal health coverage (‎UHC)‎. This report presents a policy and strategy overview of the experience of primary health care in the Western Pacific Region over the last 10 years and discusses options for future policy directions.