Health care to the year 2000 and beyond

ABSTRACT

Reviews the advances in health care for the period 1937-77 in which emphasis was placed on immunization, environmental sanitation and material services through the Primary Health Care (PHC) programme, but state that the approach was fragmented. Examines the post-1978 period and the influence of the World Health Assembly statement in shaping the PHC's approach. Its strategies include community participation, intersectoral co-ordination, restructuring of the health care system, development of management and promotion of health services research. Emphasises the need for behavioural change in the community and in the health sector, decentralisation of the health care system, expansion of the role of hospitals and finding alternative financing for health care in order to achieve the goal(AU)