Page 238 - Health, Population and Environment Education 9

1. Essential health care service
Primary health care is considered as an essential health service for all. Primary health care
services include a wide range of health services such as health education, safe and pure
drinking water supply of nutritious food, environmental sanitation, medical services,
family planning, maternal and child care services, vaccination and so on. All the people
of every part of the country should get these services whether they are poor or rich.
Similarly, these services should be accessible to all parts of the country.

2. Acceptable
The services provided by primary health care should be acceptable to all people
irrespective of their age, sex, caste, religion locality, etc. primary health care should not
discriminate people and it should not go against social norms and values.

3. Accessible
Primary health care should be with in the reach of the people in all parts of the country
whether rural areas or urban areas. Similarly, it should be accessible to all people who
whether they are poor or rich.

4. Broad public participation
Active participation of community members is essential in order to make the fullest use of
local, national and other useful resources to provide primary health care. The principle of
primary health care demands broad public participation and equal contribution of local
people to facilitate preventive, curative, promotive and rehabilitative services.

5. Affordable
The health care services provided by primary health care should be affordable to people
of all level.
These services should be provided to all people free of cost as far as possible. If it is not
so, these services should be provided at minimum cost so that people of low economic
standard can get those health service easily. The government of Nepal is providing primary
health care services free of cost to the local people through primary health centres, sub-
health post and health post.

10.3 Importance of Primary Health Care

Primary health care (PHC) is the front line of the health care system. Primary health care
provides community based, multidisciplinary, patient centred care with a focus on both
the treatment and prevention of various conditions. It provides the essential first point of
contact in our efforts to keep people well and improve their quality of life. Primary health
care is accessed by vast majority of a large number of people throughout the country.
A strong, accessible primary health care system reduces pressure on hospitals by
238 GREEN Environment Population and Health Education Book-9