Primary Health Care: A Historical Review in Iran and the World

Human health is a fundamental right and a valuable asset at all levels and social classes. All countries have mentioned this right as the most basic right of the people of their country, and governments have made maintaining and promoting it one of the most important endeavors in their daily lives. During the 1970s, the World Health Organization proposed new solutions to problems. Alma Ata conference in 1978 is considered as one of the milestones in the delivery of health care in the world. At this conference- which was attended by most countries of the world - the emphasis on health actions compared to treatment was identified as one of the most important ways to ensure health. Subsequently, and for many years, the World Health Charter and Report and PHC-related conferences emphasize the need for the role of this approach as an equitable approach to accessing health services and health promotion. Finally, the World Health Report 2008, stressed the need primary health care (PHC) at this time more than ever it is important and it knows the key to achieving health equity. This approach has been used simultaneously in Iran and other countries of the world. In this article, briefly and in two parts, first, the historical course of primary health care and in the second part, its course in Iran and some selected countries of the world are mentioned. Covid-19 pandemic, reiterates the need to pay serious attention to the principles of primary health care in countries around the world, and showed that resorting to approaches to promote health and health governance is the main and least costly strategy in combating and controlling this disease.