Strengthening primary health care-oriented health systems to address antimicrobial resistance

Overview

A primary health care (PHC)-oriented health system aims to maximize the level and distribution of health and well-being through three components: (i) primary care and essential public health functions as the core of integrated health services; (ii) multisectoral policy and action; and (iii) empowered people and communities. This policy brief describes 8 priority antimicrobial resistance (AMR) interventions for mainstreaming AMR into PHC-oriented health systems and includes an AMR and PHC country scoping tool and stakeholder consideration list. It builds on the WHO people-centred approach to addressing AMR (PCA-AMR) and its core package of 13 AMR interventions, which promotes equitable, affordable access to high-quality health services for the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of infections, including drug-resistant infections. The priority interventions and practical examples noted in this policy brief are aligned with the PCA-AMR and are clustered according to the three PHC components. The interventions described are targeted at strengthening primary care and bolstering community engagement and are based on evidence and lessons learnt from a validation project in four countries.