The Primary Health Care and its potential in Public Health

Primary Health Care, involves a dynamic and interdependent relationship with health care users, as it is their first contact with the health care system. According to the objectives of the World Health Organization and the principles of the Alma-Ata Declaration (1978), Primary Health Care is the starting point in achieving global health and social well-being. However, there is considerable unevenness in its structure, role as well as function internationally, confirming and highlighting the existence of different health systems. Although in Greece, it has not yet taken the place it truly deserves, however, both the socio-economic impact of the global financial crisis of 2009 and the persistent COVID-19 pandemic, highlight the central importance and role of Primary Health Care towards achieving quality and equity in public health. A review of the literature and a search of articles of the last decade on this topic in international databases, PubMed, Google Scholar and Elsevier in Greek and English was conducted. From the literature review, the necessity of shifting, transforming and investing in Primary Health Care was highlighted, as research has proven in practice to be not only the most effective, but also the most economically viable approach to socialpolicy making at national and global level.

Keywords: Primary Health Care, National Health System in Greece, long-term care, social policy, Public health