Healthcare Provider Advocacy for Primary Health Care Strengthening: A Call for Action

Abstract

Primary Health Care (PHC) is the backbone of health systems and a cornerstone of Universal Health Coverage. In 2018, political commitment to PHC, including a comprehensive approach based on essential care throughout the lifespan, integrated public health functions, and community empowerment was reaffirmed by international stakeholders in Astana. As recent events exposed weaknesses of health care systems worldwide, growing attention has been paid to strengthening PHC. While the role of care providers as health advocates has been recognized, they may lack skills, opportunities, and resources to actively engage in advocacy. Particularly for PHC providers, guidance and tools on how to advocate to strengthen PHC are scarce. In this article, we review priority policy areas for PHC strengthening with relevance for several settings and health care systems and propose approaches to empower PHC providers—physician, non-physician, or informal PHC providers—to advocate for strengthening PHC in their countries by individual or collective action. We provide initial ideas for a stepwise advocacy strategy and recommendations for practical advocacy activities. Our aim is to initiate further discussion on how to strengthen health care provider driven advocacy for PHC and to encourage advocates in the field to reflect on their opportunities for local, national, and global action.

Effects of Experienced Discrimination in Pediatric Sickle Cell Disease: Caregiver and Provider Perspectives

“…By focusing specifically on pediatric SCD, the current study illuminates the uniquely complex challenges faced by patients with SCD and their families due to combined diseaseand race-based discrimination and highlights the need for more robust provider-caregiver-patient approaches across care settings. For example, hematology providers, such as patient advocates, are uniquely positioned to be able to advocate for families of individuals with SCD and improve antidiscriminatory models of treatment between patient families and providers (e.g., trust building, accountability keeping, values, fostering rapport) across healthcare settings [40,41]. Current findings suggest the need for communal gatekeeping of self and team accountability within larger healthcare provider networks to mitigate discriminatory effects on patients and families as they seek care in the emergency department or inpatient setting.…”

The Usage of the Term “Social” in Japanese Primary Care Literature

“…Primary care professionals attend to patients’ health needs in both proximal and distal contexts [ 1 ], and are responsible not only for individual patients but also for the health of the community [ 2 ], necessitating their role as advocates [ 3 ]. Therefore, the importance of incorporating a "social” perspective in primary care practice has been emphasized [ 4 ].…”

Exploring the preferences of traditional versus Western medicine in the Spiti Valley region of India: A qualitative approach

“…It should also provide continuity of care through the promotion of a long-term patient and healthcare team relationship, as well as offer a number of preventive and curative services of the highest quality and lowest cost (i.e., comprehensive and coordinated care) to meet the community's needs [ 3 ]. Lastly, it should be person-centered, ensuring patients are actively involved in their care [ 4 ].…”