Primary Health Care, Health Systems, and Community Nursing Leadership
Core concepts
Primary health care (PHC) is essential, accessible, community-based, and equitable. Know Alma-Ata and Astana declarations, PHC principles (accessibility, community participation, intersectoral collaboration, appropriate technology, equity), and health system building blocks (service delivery, workforce, information, medicines, financing, leadership). Leadership requires advocacy, teamwork, delegation, quality improvement, and change management.
Traps in questions
- Confusing PHC with primary care (first-contact clinical care).
- Ignoring community participation and equity.
- Choosing autocratic leadership for a participatory scenario.
- Overlooking delegation boundaries.
- Missing quality improvement cycles (PDSA).
Worked example / rule of thumb
A community health center wants to reduce waiting times. Use PDSA (Plan-Do-Study-Act) with staff and community input. Rule of thumb: PHC questions reward equity, participation, and intersectoral action.
Key teaching points
PHC is broader than primary care. Leadership should be participatory and evidence-based. Use PDSA for improvement.