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 reengineer 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; iPHC; public health service; clinical services; developing countries.

South Sudan Medical Journal Vol 12. No 2 May 2019