Innovation in Primary Healthcare in the Twenty-first Century

Abstract

COVID-19 once again has shown the world the importance of an urgent need for revitalising the health system based on a strong primary healthcare foundation. It is clear that without a community-based grassroots level care delivery system, Test, Trace and Isolation may not be an effective operational possibility. Politics of health with consequent austerity programme and dependence on secondary hospital care–based system has proved to be ineffective and costly in meeting the changing demands for healthcare of the population. Demographic and epidemiological transition with the increasing burden of chronic care; unfinished agenda of Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and the new challenge of achieving Sustainable Development Gaos (SDGs), including Universal Health Care; improving quality along with access to care; and addressing the existing inequity in healthcare service, politicians and public health leaders must realise and invest in people-centred, need-based primary healthcare. Significant and sustained productivity gains can be made through various innovations that can change how quality services are delivered and reduce inequity. In order for primary healthcare to become fit for purpose, it must improve its allocative, technical and service delivery efficiencies; effectiveness and responsiveness of care; access, quality and equity of care; and have an inbuilt monitoring and accountability framework. The system must create a conducive political, social and service delivery environment for innovations. Today, developing countries, as well as developed countries, are all strengthening their primary healthcare system through various innovations to maximise the use of scarce resources to reach all people who need care and minimising cost, wastage and inefficiencies.