BACKGROUND After the establishment of Primary Health Care (PHC) program in Iran, health indicators have improved every year. This progress was so rapid that a number of shortcomings and weaknesses of the PHC program remained silent behind its successes. This study aimed to assess the status of Iran's PHC system (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats) in terms of health system's contr...

We read with interest of the authors’ experience from Nepal and that they rightly point out the urgent need to bridge the manpower gap in this country. This gap is disturbingly high, not only in Nepal but in most other low-income countries (LICs) and is the most common direct cause of the diagnostic and treatment gaps in the management of epilepsy. The authors are also right to call for the tra...

BACKGROUND Homosexual patients are affected by social factors in their environment, and as a result may not have easy access to existing health care services. Prejudice against homosexuality and homosexual patients remains a barrier to them seeking appropriate healthcare. The concern is that lesbians and gays might delay or avoid seeking health care when they need it because of past discriminat...

OBJECTIVE To find out how Estonian people evaluate the changes in primary health care (PHC), how they perceive the acceptability of the new PHC system, and to assess patients' satisfaction with their primary care doctor. DESIGN Face-to-face interviews using structured questionnaires. SETTING Estonia. STUDY PARTICIPANTS A random sample of Estonian residents aged 15-74 years (n = 997). MA...

Introduction: We describe the restructuring that is taking place in primary health care (PHC) in Portugal and discuss how the new emerging organization and work practices reflect in care transitions and intraand inter-organizational integration. Theory and methods: PHC represents an essential support for the restructuring that is taking place in health care in Portugal. We conducted a case stud...

BACKGROUND Concern for the sustainability of health care systems has forced health authorities and insurance companies to develop performance measurement systems to promote the achievement of health objectives. These actions aim to stimulate quality improvement while controlling costs by making providers accountable for what they do as well as for the quality of the care they provide. However, ...

INTRODUCTION Greece is striving to limit its health expenditure to essential needs. General practice and the provision of Primary Health Care (PHC) mainly take place in rural settings, where approximately 200 Primary Health Care Centres (PHCCs) have been established. In order to determine how to optimize the effectiveness and efficiency of PHC services, it is important to first gain insights in...

BACKGROUND A team approach in primary care has proven benefits in achieving better outcomes, reducing health care costs, satisfying patient needs, ensuring continuity of care, increasing job satisfaction among health providers and using human health care resources more efficiently. However, some research indicates constraints in collaboration within primary health care (PHC) teams in Lithuania....

The persistent high occurrence of maternal and child morbidity and mortality especially in SubSaharan African societies still reflects that much ground is yet to be covered on maternal and child healthcare. The study therefore, investigates the socio-cultural factors that influence the utilization of MCH. The study uses triangulation of a structured questionnaire and an in-depth interview in da...

Sexual health and reproductive health are relatively new concepts in Europe. They were introduced and recommended during and after the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) in Cairo, 1994. At the ICPD a 20-year Programme of Action was adopted by the vast majority of world states. This article is an edited version of the European Forum for Primary Care (EFPC) position pap...