Primary Care

Primary care is the foundation of the healthcare system, offering accessible, comprehensive, and continuous care for individuals and families. Primary care providers, including general practitioners, family physicians, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants, serve as the first point of contact for patients. They manage a wide range of health issues, from preventive care and health education to the diagnosis and treatment of acute and chronic conditions. By building long-term relationships with patients, primary care professionals coordinate care, promote healthy lifestyles, and facilitate early intervention, which can prevent the progression of diseases. Their holistic approach ensures that healthcare is personalised and responsive to the needs of the community, playing a crucial role in maintaining overall public health and well-being.

There are five core functions of primary care:

• First contact accessibility creates a strategic entry point for and improves access to health services.
• Continuity promotes the development of long-term personal relationships between a person and a health professional or a team of providers.
• Comprehensiveness ensures that a diverse range of promotive, protective, preventive, curative, rehabilitative, and palliative services are provided.
• Coordination organizes services and care across levels of the health system and over time. 
• People-centred care ensures that people have the education and support needed to make decisions and participate in their own care.