Introduction

• On 12th Nov. 1978 world leaders, international organizations and health authorities (WHO & UNICEF gathered in Alma-Ata (Almaty), Kazakhstan, and released the Declaration of Alma-Ata on Primary Health Care, which remains a landmark document in the history of global health. This was to get way forward to the health problems faced by people of the whole world.
• 134 governments ratified the WHO Declaration of Alma-Ata, asserting that: Health for all could be achieved by 2000.
• The Alma-Ata Declaration of 1978 emerged as a major milestone of the 20th century in the field of public health and it identified Primary Health Care (PHC) as the key to the attainment of the goal of Health for All (HFA).
• A Vision for primary health care in the 21st century: Towards UHC (Universal Health coverage) and the Sustainable Development Goals(SDGs). UHC Means that all individuals & communities receive the health services they need without suffering financial hardships.

The l0 global health targets are the most concrete end points to be pursued. They can be divided into three subgroups

• Health Outcomes: These are about making people healthier.
  • Health Equity: By 2005, we want to make sure that health is fair for everyone, especially for kids’ growth.
  • Survival: By 2020, we aim to reduce deaths in mothers, kids, and increase how long people live.
  • Reverse Pandemics: By 2020, we want to reduce diseases like tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS, malaria, smoking-related diseases, and violence.
  • Eradicate Diseases: We want to get rid of diseases like measles, lymphatic filariasis, Chagas’ disease, leprosy, trachoma, and vitamin A and iodine deficiencies by 2020.
• Determinants of Health: These are factors that affect health.
  • Access to Basics: By 2020, all countries should make sure people have clean water, good sanitation, enough food, and proper shelter.
  • Promoting Healthy Lifestyles: By 2020, countries should encourage healthy habits and discourage harmful ones.
• Health Policies and Systems: This is about how healthcare is organized.
  • National Health Policies: By 2005, every country should have plans to make healthcare better for everyone.
  • Access to Healthcare: By 2010, everyone should have good quality healthcare.
  • Health Information: By 2010, we need better ways to gather health information.
  • Health Research: By 2010, we want more research to improve health.

The Difference between PHC & Medical care is that PHC deals with BOTH individuals and Public health, WHILE Medical deals with Individuals.