Learning from primary care in developing countries

Abstract

Health-related innovations in developing countries have had worldwide relevance. More specifically the author agrees with Johnstone and McConnan that the health service in Britain can learn may lessons from health services in poorer countries. However the push for community-based rather than hospital-based services has been difficult both to initiate and to sustain. The health services in most developing countries are a mix of traditional-indigenous private-commercial at many levels and government provided. The author notes that most British people who have worked recently in developing countries have done so with charitable nongovernment organizations which have the greatest opportunity for innovation and flexibility. A few of Johnstone and McConnans principles are illustrated with specific examples. Even pediatric hospital practice in Britain is catching up with that in developing countries.