The global commitment to primary health care (PHC), so that all people, everywhere, can share in enjoying the best possible health throughout their lives, is bold and significant. Effective primary health care underpins all high-performing health systems and provides the foundation for achieving universal health coverage (UHC) . However, there is much to be done if it is to meet the needs of all people, particularly those living in low- and middle-income countries.
Health systems are fuelled by their financing arrangements and getting them right is crucial for ensuring people remain at their heart. The Asia & the Pacific Health Financing Forum held in Bangkok, Thailand, in September 2022 provided a platform for public health experts to relay their experiences in developing “people-centered financing” arrangements.
Indonesia sets an example
A key recommendation from the recent Lancet Global Health Commission on Financing Primary Health Care: Putting People at the Center is that population based provider payment mechanisms such as capitation – where a fixed amount of money per patient is paid in advance to health providers to deliver services – will play a pivotal role in keeping people at the centre of health service delivery, no matter where they live.
