WHO European Centre for Primary Health Care: annual report 2024

Overview

In 2024, the WHO European Centre for Primary Health Care actively engaged with countries across the Region, strengthening international cooperation and supporting health reform efforts. The team conducted 22 missions focused on analyzing policy challenges, facilitating political dialogue, and developing solutions tailored to national contexts. A key milestone was the expansion of partnerships, such as the exchange between China and Kazakhstan on primary health care, and the launch of WHO’s third demonstration platform in Spain. A highlight of the year was the completion of the final cohort of the Primary Health Care Performance Assessment and Management course, which over four years has trained national health leaders from 20 countries. Virtual initiatives also gained momentum: the fourth season of the talk show Let’s Talk Primary Health Care brought together changemakers, and WHO’s new series of mini-conferences on primary health care offered in-depth exploration of key policy and practice issues, attracting over 500 participants. Looking ahead, the central role of primary health care in WHO’s European Programme of Work will create new opportunities for strengthening PHC in national strategies — enhancing the ability to respond to health challenges, support healthy ageing, adapt to climate change, and harness innovation. The report highlights key stories, data, and results from the year, emphasizing the vital role of the people and teams working to achieve universal health coverage.