Equipping leaders to drive primary health care (PHC)-oriented health system transformations

This comprehensive 80-hour course, aligned with WHO’s vision for people-centered, resilient and sustainable PHC-centered health systems, empowers leaders to champion health equity, promote social justice and uphold the right to health for all.

Course overview

Effective leadership is crucial for transformative change in health systems. This course is designed to equip decision and policy-makers with the necessary skills to reorient health systems towards PHC. View a short video here about the course for more information.

Upon completion, participants will:

• demonstrate a common understanding of PHC and its role in achieving universal health coverage, the health-related Sustainable Development Goals and health security;
• utilize the PHC operational framework levers to address implementation barriers and drive health system transformation towards PHC;
• apply evidence-informed strategies and tools to national and subnational policy and planning processes for PHC strengthening; and
• exhibit leadership through change management in health systems to strengthen the PHC approach.

Course structure

The course is divided into four sections, each focusing on key aspects of the PHC approach, its components and its application to drive health system transformation.

Learning journey

Delivered through the WHO-Academy digital learning platform, the course emphasizes competency-based learning and practical real-world applications. Participants dedicate 4 to 6 hours weekly to:

• complete self-paced module content (2-3 hours);
• participate in synchronous sessions facilitated by global and regional PHC experts (1-2 hours); and
• engage in course assignments (1-2 hours).

Upon successful completion of course requirements, participants will receive a certificate from the WHO Academy.