Integrated Primary Health Care (iPHC) for developing countries: a practical approach in South Sudan

Abstract

Introduction: The founding vision of Primary Health Care (PHC) adopted in Alma Atta in 1978 has not worked as a result a number of countries have sought to re-engineer their own healthcare systems. Healthcare model in most developing countries needs to change from that inherited from the colonial era, which is predominantly hospital-based. Objective: To describe an integrated primary health care (iPHC) model which encompasses public health services with enhanced basic diagnostic and curative services as a cost-effective delivery of healthcare in the rural areas where 95% of the population resides. Method: A descriptive study of a proposed iPHC model following situational analyses and literature review of primary healthcare experiences from around the world with a view to inform a practical approach in South Sudan. Results: The iPHC model consists of five pillars: (1) public health services (2) clinical services (3) universal registration of population in the catchment areas; (4) a standard building infrastructure; and (5) training of multi-disciplinary healthcare workforce. Once operational, within five years it is envisaged that one fully functioning iPHC centre can provide universal access to healthcare service to 10,000 population resident in a geographical catchment area. Conclusion: South Sudan has a unique opportunity to improve the health of its population by embracing a new model of delivering health care: the iPHC. This model is simple, and can be the basis of delivering a health service for the rural population.

Keywords

• Integrated primary healthcare;
• public health service
• clinical health service
• developing countries