Family Practice Vol. 17, No. 5, 361-363
© Oxford University Press 2000
Editorial |
Out of Africa: some lessons for general practice/family medicine in developed countries?
Department of Community Health Sciences, University of Edinburgh, 20 West Richmond Street, Edinburgh EH8 9DX, UK.
Murray SA. Out of Africa: some lessons for general practice/family medicine in developed countries? Family Practice 2000; 17: 361–363.
Received 26 January 2000; Accepted 16 May 2000.
Introduction
Many countries currently are looking to the UK for a model of effective and efficient primary care. I have had the privilege of being involved in developing primary care in East and West Africa as well as in the UK. Primary care in ‘developed’ countries may learn some fundamental lessons from developing countries, especially at a time when public involvement, community action and inter-sectoral liaison are being advocated in the UK. The following insights may be timely:
- primary health care is much wider than primary medical care
- community and individual care can be integrated together
- involving the public is essential
- nurses and other primary health care team members can adopt extended roles
- effective low cost care is possible
- holistic including spiritual care promotes health.
Primary health care (PHC) is much wider than primary medical care
The World Health Organization has advocated the broad concept of PHC for 25 years,1 and there are many examples of effective local and
Community-oriented primary care (COPC) can function well
Involving the public/community participation can work
Nurses and other PHC team members can adopt extended roles
Ensuring best value for limited money
The spiritual dimension may be important to the patient
Conclusions
References