Primary Health Care Program Concept Paper

Primary Health Care Program Concept Paper

A majority of Pakistan’s population depends heavily upon government programs to meet its health care needs. Poor health care indicators such as maternal and infant mortality demonstrate that these needs are not often met. Preventable and communicable diseases are the major causes of high mortality rates and contribute heavily to the burden of illness in Pakistan.
The Basic Health Unit (BHU) is the institutional mechanism for the delivery of Primary Health Care in rural Pakistan. BHUs are presently ineffective in providing large scale primary health care. Most BHUs are mismanaged and only meet the needs of less than 40% of the population of Pakistan.
The Task Force conducted an analysis through workshops and individual interviews, of the current delivery capacity and coverage of primary health care. The Task Force’s analysis highlights limited access as one of the major shortcomings of the primary health care system. The Task Force suggests policy interventions and recommends a Primary Health Care Program (PHCP) to improve access to care.
Community based preventive health programs focused on health education which leverage indigenous human resources provide the model for the Primary Health Care Program (PHCP). This program will eventually reduce the government’s burden for the provision of primary health care services. Communities will completely sustain the PHCP upon maturation.
The PHCP will be affiliated with the proposed Human Development Incubators for implementation. It will drastically reduce mortality and morbidity rates, especially Maternal and Infant Mortality.
Overview of Primary Health Care Program:
The PHCP will be implemented through community based Health Committees. Service providers will be selected and trained from within the community by NGOs. Although there will be specific health interventions such as immunizations and growth monitoring, the prime focus of the program will be on improving health related behaviors through health education. Health prevention and promotion will lead to significant reduction in mortality and morbidity rates.
Implementation of the PHCP will be based upon the following methodology:
1. Assessment of community needs and sending out Requests for Proposals to NGOs/CBOs and voluntary organizations to meet identified needs
2. Selection of NGOs/implementing agencies by the Human Development Incubator
3. Development of community Health Committees for Units of 500 households
4. Selection and training of local health care providers
5. Delivery of primary health care services
6. Graduation of units after complete and sustainable support by the local community
7. Ongoing monitoring and evaluation