Various Primary Health Care Principles - Essay Example

Health Care Assignment by XXXXXX Submitted on 9th October 2009. 1 Health Care 1 Assignment by XXXXXX 1 Submitted on 9th October 2009. 1 Introduction: 2 PHC: 2 Universal Coverage: 4 People Centred Care: 5 Intersectoral collaboration: 6 Public participation: 7 Technological Application: 8 Conclusion: 9 Reference: 9 Introduction: PRIMARY Health Care is an important tool in the hands of all those who are engaged in the field of health care and medicine and have over the years become an important guideline in the hands of the nursing sector. In the following essay the principles of PHC have been discussed along with the role that it plays in the nursing sector, and in the promotion of health care in the community. PHC: Primary Health Care is an important part of the new health care that was adopted by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 1978 in Alma Ata. The meet was organized by WHO and UNICEF and called for the amendment of the existing health care policy that was being followed so as to ensure better results and provide better facilities and services to the people. At the meet primary health care (PHC) was described as “essential health care based on practical, scientifically sound and socially acceptable methods and technology made universally accessible to individuals and families in the community through their full participation and at a cost that the community and the country can afford to maintain at every stage of their development in the spirit of self-determination” (World Health Organization). PHC has four essential goals that form the basis for its course of services. These include: Universal coverage by ensuring sufficient supply of medicines and services; removing financial barriers to access and ensuring social health protection. It also calls for people-centred care by transforming traditional healthcare delivery models (specialist, procedure or hospital-based) into people-centred primary care networks Thirdly it calls for inclusive leadership by shifting from conventional "command-and-control" approaches, increasing participation of all stakeholders and moving from supply-led to demand-led policies and programmes. Lastly it promotes the primacy of health in all policies. (PHS RIS: Primary Health Care Research and Information Service). Many scholars have promoted PHC. “Primary health care is socially appropriate, universally accessible, scientifically sound first level care provided by health services and systems with a suitably trained workforce comprised of multi-disciplinary teams supported by integrated referral systems in a way that: gives priority to those most in need and addresses health inequalities; maximises community and individual self-reliance, participation and control; and involves collaboration and partnership with other sectors to promote public health. Comprehensive primary health care includes health promotion, illness prevention, treatment and care of the sick, community development, and advocacy and rehabilitation.” (Keleher, 2001, pp.57-61) In the following assignment there shall be a detailed study done of the various methods through which PHC has been implemented in the society focusing mainly on the Australian experience. There shall also be studied the various methods through which these could be promoted in society and look at the flaws that exist in the current system. The paper shall look at the four goals and study how each has been dealt with in the Australian experience and how it can be improved upon. Universal Coverage: The first principle of PHC is that of universal coverage or accessibility and availability to all. The most important factor that has to be taken into account while planning the PHC is to ensure that there is reduction in the exclusion and social disparities in health. There should be ensured that all have access to health facilities in the country. This is especially important in the context of the Australian experience because the terrain and the geography of the region are such that there are certain areas that are isolated and there are others that cannot be accessed through road. Thus there has been observed the development of such a system where the medical aid is transported through air (Doggett J, 2007). There have been established systems that make use of helicopters as ambulances so that medical aid can be transported to the most remote areas also. The nurses have to be trained to ensure that they can follow these methodologies. It has also been observed that primary health care is the most important health care system that is established in most of the rural areas of the country. The general practitioners, nurses and others in the primary health care sector and their spouses are a significant part of the community and contribute to local decision making outside of the health sector (i.e. are a source of intellectual capital) and to mutual support in health and non health issues (i.e. are a source of social capital). The importance of health workers and services in the survival of communities is such that closure of health facilities is seen as a threat to the whole community (Gray D. Grbich C, 2006, pp.234-250). People Centred Care: Another important factor that influences PHC in its functioning is that of it being people friendly. There has to be a bid made for health promotion and educating the masses for health care. It is believed and observed that it is important to decentralize the health care system from just being confined to formal institutes such as hospitals and clinics. There has to be a bid made to involve people. It calls for enabling people to deal with the growing health issues, and being able to avail of health facilities given the economic background so that it can reduce and finally erase the inequality that exists in society. It calls for involving of individuals and groups in the health promotion (McGilvray, J C. 1981 pp 67-74). There also has be imbibed and promoted a sense of cultural sensitivity because the Australian society is an amalgamation of various cultures and thus the nurses have to be trained to deal with the different situation that may develop while continuing to adher to the cultural and ethnic needs of the people. There has been observed that this has been achieved through various methods such as holding seminars and work shops where the people are made aware of the basic health care measures. There can also be conducted various health care workshops by nurses in schools and work centre in which they can instruct individuals and groups on how to react and handle situations where there is a health care emergency (Socrates L pp 209-232). Education is another important factor that has to be taken into account while dealing with health promotion. It is important as it leads to helping people knowledge of how to look after their health and the health of others. Education of the masses helps in the encouragement of basic health principles such as regular hand washing, drinking clean water, exercising and keeping the environment clean, and this helps in promotion of a healthier life style and also helps in the prevention of illnesses. It has been observed that it also leads to the minimization of death. Intersectoral collaboration: PHC also calls for improvements that have to be made in the existing system so that it can deal with the continuous challenges that are being faced in the health care sector. There has been a call made in the leadership of the country and there has to be laid greater emphasis on development of a system which is able to meet the demands of the health care. There has to be made a shift in the policy formulation of the country where there has to be emphasis laid on the importance of policies that are demand led and not supply led (Keleher H.,2001 pp 57-61). There has been observed that there is a changing trend in the health care sector. The changes that are taking place call for a greater participation of the various cultural sectors and the different groups of the Australian society. These have come together to face the growing health concerns facing the society, and this is of great significance as this helps in the development of the health care system which is in accordance to the needs to of the ethnic groups. The nursing department plays an important role in this as they help in modification of the health policy and practices in accordance to these needs and demands. Public participation: There has been ensured greater participation of the masses by the new changes that are taking place in the health care sector. There has been observed that the government is always talking about taking pressure of the government hospitals, whereas there should be emphasis laid on early intervention so that the services of these institutions are not required at all. Too many people have to fight their way through a complex maze of services and funding systems to deal with common illnesses that could easily be addressed at their local health centre - if only the state and federal governments were willing to take on the challenge of real health reform (Simmons D 83-97). This can be easily handled if there was a system developed in accordance with the PHC where there is emphasis laid on community efforts. These efforts are promoted by nurses who work with clients and community members and being responsive to changes within the community. Nurses are socially responsive, active commitment and knowing its members needs, resources and establish effective health promotion and diseases, provides prevention programs. Nurses are giving health education, mange diseases, provide school health and care for the elderly at home in the community where they work. Technological Application: The technological application and advancement has played an important role in the growth and development of the health care services that are provided in the country. There have been a number of advances that have been experienced in the technological department that has led to the greater growth. For example the IVF program has been undertaken in all the facilities all over the country and the success rate of this technology is quite high. It has been seen in the example derived from the Springdale Journal where it has been noted that on every 1 trial the success rate is 6, in the case of 2 trials the success rate is 10, in the case of three its 14, and in the case of 4 or more its 15. these figures reflect the changes that have occurred in the system due to the implementation of the IVF technology (Springdale Link). There has been adopted a number of technologically advanced machines such as the MRI machines and the X ray machines. These have led to a more detailed treatment of the patients and have led a greater improvement in the services provided in the formal institutes. Promotion of technology is done mostly by the nursing staff. They are the ones who learn to handle and work with these new technologies and help integrate it into the daily practice. Thus, they help in the promotion of technological advancement in the health sector and help in the implementation of these changes. Conclusion: The essay thus reflects upon the importance of the health care policies that have been adopted in the Australian society. It focuses on the development of the PHC, that is, Primacy Health Care and how it helps those engaged in the health sector. There is also discussed the various important factors on which the PHC is based and enumerates how nurses help in not only the implementation of these principles but also in its promotion. The nurses face the challenges of the balancing between the social needs, the health care requirements and the facilities available. They take care of balancing out the various tasks related to health care in a multicultural society which is spread across a wide terrain and also coordinate among the various activities that are involved in health care. Reference: Doggett J, 2007, A New Approach to Primacy Care for Australia, Centre for Policy Development, pub June 6th, 2007. Gray D. Grbich C, 2006, Health Sociology: An Australian Perspective and Health in Australia: Sociological Concepts and Issues, Ed 3, pp 234- 250. Keleher H. 2001. Why Primary Health Care Offers a more Comprehensive Approach to Tackling Health Inequalities than Primary Care. Australian Journal of Primary Health 7 (2): 57-61. McGilvray, J C. 1981, The Quest for Health and Wholeness. Tübingen: German Institute for Medical Missions, pp 67-74. PHS RIS: Primary Health Care Research and Information Service: Info Bytes, accessed on Thursday, October 8th 2009 at http://www.phcris.org.au/infobytes/about_phc.php. Simmons D, Rural Primacy Health Care in Australia: What Can We Learn, pp 83-97. Socrates L, The Long and Difficult Road to Alma-Ata: A Personal Reflection. 32. pp. 209-232. Springdale Link: Journal of in Vitro Fertilization and Embryo Transfer, Vol.7, No. 5, 1990, accessed on October 8th 2009 at http://resources.metapress.com/pdf-preview.axd?code=h434450u16635400&size=largest. World Health Organization: Primary Health Care, accessed on Thursday, October 8 2009 at http://www.who.int/topics/primary_health_care/en/. Read More