Primary Health Care and Health Promotion

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Primary Health Care (PHC) and Health Promotion are important for a quality health care system to allow equity, social justice and empowerment. To explore Primary Health Care and Health Promotion and its value within the health care system, one must first distinguish what health is. There are many varying opinions of health depending on personal context, although the most commonly referred to definition is from the World Health Organisation (WHO), which defines health as “a state of complete physical, mental and social wellbeing and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity (World Health Organisation, 1948). Primary Health Care is a multidimensional concept that can involve both philosophy and in practice. The philosophy of primary health care is derived from the 1978 Declaration Alma-Ata which states that primary health care incorporates curative treatment by the initial health professional, together with health promotion, education to prevent further issues and rehabilitation services provided by a collaboration of multiple health professionals in interdisciplinary teams (Australian Medical Association, 2010). It is intended to rectify inequalities in health by understanding that health is not solely dependent on the illness but also a broad spectrum of social, environmental, economic and political factors (McMurray & Clendon, 2011). The three main principles regarding Primary Health Care are empowerment, equity and social justice. Equity implies fairness, social justice is the promise to equity and empowerment refers to the process of allowing individuals and communities to participate in a way that enhances their lives and attains social justice (Talbot & Verrinder, 2014). Along with the empowerment, equity and social just... ... middle of paper ... ...are: A Framework for Transition. Agenda(27), 21-26. Jirojwong, S., & Liamputtong, P. (2009). Population Health, Communities and Health Promotion. (S. Jirojwong, & P. Liamputtong, Eds.) Melbourne, Australia: Oxford University Press. McMurray, A., & Clendon, J. (2011). Community Health and Wellness: Primary Health Care in Practice (4th ed.). Chatswood, NSW: Elsevier Australia. Talbot, L., & Verrinder, G. (2014). Promoting Health: The primary health care approach (5th ed.). Australia: Elsevier. World Health Organisation. (1948). WHO definition of Health. Retrieved March 2014, from World Health Organisation: http://www.who.int/about/definition/en/print.html World Health Organisation. (1986, November 17th-21st). The Ottawa Charter for Health Promotion. Retrieved March 2014, from World Health Organisation: http://www.who.int/healthpromotion/conferences/previous/ottawa/en/

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