Health services development

Western Pacific Regional Strategy for Health Systems Based on the Values of Primary Health Care

Full Text of the Western Pacific Regional Strategy for Health Systems Based on the Values of Primary Health Care

The WHO Constitution states that "the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health is one of the fundamental rights of every human being". Effective and efficient health systems contribute to the progressive realization of that right. Health systems do better at attaining that standard if they are underpinned by core values such as equity, social justice, universality, people-centredness, community protection, participation, scientific soundness, personal responsibility, self-determination and self reliance. Values such as these have been a part of the primary health care agenda since they were articulated in the Declaration of Alma-Ata adopted at the International Conference on Primary Health Care in 1978. Although there are wide variations in political, social and health systems both globally and within the Western Pacific Region, there is an increasing body of evidence that adherence to these core principles or values leads to better health systems and better health outcomes.

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Health Services Development Unit

P.O. Box 2932
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Telephone: (+63 2) 528 8001
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hsd@wpro.who.int