Advancing the science and practice of primary health care as a foundation for universal health coverage: a call for papers
by Etienne V Langlois, Shannon Barkley, Edward Kelley, Abdul Ghaffar
Health systems face increasingly complex challenges, such as the growing burden of chronic non-communicable diseases, multisource pollution, new epidemics and antimicrobial resistance. These challenges have prompted an important shift in focus from curative care to health promotion and disease prevention, as well as the development of new models of service delivery, financing and governance for primary health care. Global health stakeholders are pushing for renewed commitments to enhance primary health care in the 21st century, in light of the 2018 Declaration of Astana. The 2019 World Health Assembly adopted an ambitious resolution recognizing the role of primary health care in providing the full range of health services needed throughout the life course, including prevention, treatment, rehabilitation and palliative care…
Most people not covered by essential health services belong to disadvantaged groups. Primary health care can address this issue because it enhances equity and is the most feasible approach to reach people…
Implementation and systems reforms of primary health care are also challenged by the lack of contextualized knowledge and scarcity of research on effective and acceptable approaches to strengthen primary health care, especially in low- and middle-income countries. Primary health-care research that is applicable to different health systems settings is needed. To tackle these challenges, the Bulletin of the World Health Organization will publish a theme issue on advancing the science and practice of primary health care as a foundation for UHC. The theme issue aims at providing a forward-looking view of the innovations, challenges and shared responsibilities in driving primary health care, and at filling gaps and fostering discussions around what is needed to implement a primary health-care vision towards UHC. We welcome manuscripts that capture learnings and experience in the implementation of primary health-care policies and interventions as well as the strengthening of primary health-care systems…
The deadline for submission is 30 November 2019. Manuscripts should be submitted in accordance with the Bulletin’s guidelines for contributors. The cover letter should mention this call for papers. This theme issue will be launched at the Global Symposium on Health Systems Research in Dubai in 2020.
FULL TEXT: WHO Bulletin, 2019 August;97:515–515A ; PHOTO: 2018 Declaration of Astana
Editor’s note: We encourage members and others to submit papers describing research and examples of good practice in services for safe abortion provision delivered at primary care and community level. 90% of abortions should be possible this way, including via pharmacies. We need this to be more on WHO’s radar.