Challenges for Primary Health Care in a Changing World

British Journal of General Practice, November 2008 This article considers the changing nature of primary health care in a changing international context. Four family physicians from four continents and all involved in the change process, reflect on the developments in primary health care as they perceive them. Jan De Maeseneer was involved in the incremental strengthening of primary health care in Belgium and has an international perspective as Chairman of the European Forum for Primary Care. Shabir Moosa is the acting chief specialist of District Health Services in Gauteng (South Africa) and coordinates a project on strengthening family medicine training in Africa. Yongyuth Pongsupap is the primary care component manager of Health Care Reform Project and expert in health policy at the National Health Security Office in Nonthaburi (Thailand). He has been working as a GP in a new established health centre since he was assigned as a pilot family doctor in 1991. Arthur Kaufman is involved in programmes for better access to health care for vulnerable groups and in primary care innovations in the state of New Mexico (US).