HEALTH INVESTMENT AND ECONOMIC CRISIS

  • by Mirta Roses-Periago
  • Inter Press Service

In this article, Roses-Periago writes that there is conclusive evidence from around the world that PHC-based health systems have better and more equitable health outcomes, are more efficient, have lower long-term costs, and are more resilient to crisis, demographic, and epidemiological changes. Even countries with limited resources that adopted a PHC approach have been able to build systems that are universal, equitable, flexible, and sustainable, and that deliver better results.

The question is how to invest in public health in a manner that achieves wider coverage and strengthens health care systems, while also ensuring the utmost efficiency in the use of resources and the highest return on social investment.We have a historic opportunity to achieve both aims by firmly implementing and strengthening health systems based on primary health care.

© Inter Press Service (2009) — All Rights ReservedOriginal source: Inter Press Service

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