We are primary health care

Primary health care is essential for integrated, patient-centered health systems that aim to ensure continuity of care, while rethinking the role of hospitals and specialized care. The new health systems framework, adopted at the 74th session of the WHO Regional Committee for Europe, takes this into account by giving top priority to primary health care.

Family doctors, also called general practitioners, and primary care nurses are essential to protecting the health and well-being of their communities. However, they do not act in isolation. Providing quality primary health care requires the support of psychologists, social workers, pharmacists and community members who all play an important role within the team.

This selection of images taken in Central Asia captures the complexity of delivering effective primary health care to local communities in settings ranging from high-tech urban clinics to remote rural outposts. Whether it’s a doctor performing advanced diagnostics in a primary health care setting, a nurse riding a horse to provide care in remote villages in mountainous regions, or family doctors traveling to a traveling clinic to reach underserved populations, these photos illustrate resilience, dedication and collaboration.

They highlight the very essence of primary health care, its adaptability and its person-centered approach. They also remind us that the future of health care in Central Asia depends not only on innovative technologies and policies, but also on the interpersonal relationships that primary health care teams foster, ensuring that every person in every community quickly receives services in perfect coordination and adapted to their needs. Primary health care teams must benefit from adequate support, good working conditions and appropriate resources to carry out their task.

The photos were first presented as part of the ‘We are Primary Health Care’ exhibition at the WHO/Europe Sub-Regional Technical Workshop on Strengthening the Role of Family Physicians in primary health care in Central Asia (October 2-3, 2024, Almaty, Kazakhstan).