ABSTRACT
Primary healthcare – that which provides healthcare in the first instance – is present in one form or another for all peoples in the world. Whether it be for someone who needs antenatal care, an immunization, a dressing for a minor injury, a blood pressure check or an immediate assessment and referral for suspected appendicitis, primary care systems are an essential part of
any health service. In some countries primary healthcare systems look after the great majority of most people’s health issues. In other, more affluent, countries, secondary and tertiary services play a larger part in the delivery of healthcare. However, it is widely recognized that a substantial and effective primary healthcare service is the cornerstone of a healthy population and that, without this, the provision of healthcare is an expensive and ineffectual exercise (Rawaf et al., 2008).
