Primary health care.

Health professionals need to be reminded that Primary Health Care (PHC) is an inclusive concept; it ecompasses not only curative medicine but broadly defined preventive health measures ranging from family planning services to the provision of adequate housing food and safe drinking water. The concept stresses the need to make it possible for all members of the communit to lead healthy lives by providing affordable PHC services. More specifically PHC as envisioned for South Africa and as defined by J. W. Bodenstein of the South African Department of Health Welfare and Pensions provides that all individuals have access to a wide range of 1) preventive services including maternal and child care family planning control of endemic diseases and health and nutritional education; 2) treatment services including emergency care treatment for minor illnesses and common endemic diseases and referral of patients in need of more specialized care; and 3) community services aimed at increasing food production improving communication and transportation facilities and improving health education. South Africas Health Act 63 passes in 1977 further expanded the concept to include rehabilitative services. In addition the PHC system should provide for 1) the active participation of the community 2) the integration of the PHC program into the countrys overall development plan 3) equitable health services for all segments of the population and 4) the creation of an infrastructure capable of supporting the program.