PRIMARY HEALTH-CARE AND DEVELOPING-COUNTRIES

Primary Health Care has been firmly established as the avenue which most developing countries will explore in the next twenty years, in order to improve the quality of life and health of every individual in every community. This commitment is largely the result of the Alma-Ata Conference which clarified many of the political, technical, social, administrative and educational aspects of Primary Health Care. This paper summarizes this process of consolidation of the concept, gives some examples of national plans, and then deals with types of support that facilitate community participation. Because PHC involves people rather than merely technology, the role of social scientists is one which needs greater emphasis. © 1979.