Primary Health Care - the Foundation of Universal Health Coverage
Joint Press Release – World Health Day 2019
WHO calls for more investment in Primary Health Care
7 April 2019|Vientiane Capital - Every country needs to continue to invest in health to provide access for the most vulnerable, build more equitable societies and help economies grow. Today, many people cannot access the health services they need. This could be because services are too far away, they don’t know when or where to seek care, or they fear stigma and discrimination.
Addressing this is what Universal Health Coverage means and this is what WHO is supporting countries to achieve: ensuring that all people have access to the health services they need without the risk of financial hardship. Working towards UHC is a long-term journey of continuing improvement for all countries, which requires strong commitment.
To address these issues, the Government of Laos is committed to pursuing reforms to progress towards UHC. In health financing, Laos is moving to more equitable and progressive tax-based financing for health. With the health sector reforms, access to service delivery is improving, by providing free services for pregnant women and children below the age of five.
Primary health care : the path to health for all
On the occasion of the World Health Day 2019, WHO is reinforcing its call for Health for All and requesting leaders around the world to invest in primary health care as a fundamental step towards universal health coverage.
« Working towards UHC is crucial not just to improve the health of people and families, but also for achieving strategic health goals like eliminating important diseases. It is also an investment in development. Good health allows children to learn and adults to earn, helps people escape poverty, and provides the basis for long-term economic development » stated Dr Mark Jacobs, WHO Representative to Lao PDR.
Strengthening primary health care means ensuring that people can get most of their health services as close as possible to where they live and work. It also means intervening early to prevent many illness from becoming serious. It should be people’s first point of contact with the health system, providing a range of services throughout life.
Associate Prof. Dr Bounkong Syhavong, Health Minister said “The Ministry is committed to implement the health sector reform process with a renewed focus on Primary Health Care (PHC) to ensure that accessible and quality health services for all people of Lao PDR. »
This World Health Day is highlighting the importance of taking action now and working together to invest in primary health care, which is the foundation for universal health coverage. The joint event by the Ministry of Health and WHO to mark this occasion was attended by several related ministries, development partners agencies and the media, to draw attention to the need for more action to make health care accessible for everyone.
WHO is supporting Lao PDR to strengthen and invest in their primary health care, to move further towards UHC and build a strong and equitable future for the country.
