ABSTRACT
We have seen how there is a coming together of policy objectives throughout the world regarding the needs of primary health care services – a convergence of ideas that focus the provision of services on the patient and the delivery of health care at a local level. The success of the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) Health for All Policy forms the bedrock for the strategic direction of national health policies in many parts of the world. It bridges both rich and poor economies, and, for example, in South Africa the complex political problems are challenging the health authorities to provide an efficient health care service to people with widely differing economic backgrounds. Within a short period of time the South African policy has changed from focusing on acute hospital provision to a rapid response programme of providing primary care clinics. Similar attitudes are now prevailing in other countries around the world.
