The World Health Organization and its member states, in 1978, declared that primary health care is a key to attain the goal of Health for All by years 2000. As a member state of WHO, the Republic of Korea has participated in the declaration of ALMA-ATA and committed to put national efforts for developing and implementing primary health care approach with the spirit and content of this Declaration.
Since 1978, to translate the spirit of the Declaration into realization, Korean government has developed a new category of health manpower such as Community Health Practitioners serving people living in remote rural areas and Village health Workers serving voluntarily their own village, strengthened the function of Health Centers and Health Subcenters through their reorientation and improved the infrastructure by their new construction or renovation.
While primary health care is viewed as an essential health care in Korea, there are some circles who follow a narrow definition in referring to the health care at the periphery of a health system, which is erroneous. Considering that PHC is accepted as the best alternative approach to health care to solve problems that modern health systems are facing, we propose the followings as desirable health policy directions which might translate the perspective into action at the national level after reviewing past and current PHC approach in Korea :
1. To improve the equity through the reduction of gaps between those who have access to health care and those who have not.
2. To reinforce multisectoral approach and intersectoral coordination through the re-establishment of the National Health Council or establishment of equivalent organization at the central level,
3. To strengthen community participation through local people´s empowerment by leadership training, changing planning process from the top-down approach to bottom-up and giving the priority to human resources rather than technology,
4. To reinforce the Ministry of Health and Social Affairs through upgrading its role and function to coordinate Ministries which involve human welfare policies, and creating a Division which is in charge of PHC in the Ministry.
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