Israel journal of medical sciences
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The need for alternative strategies in providing personal health services in the community is discussed in relation to Israel, which has a widespread network of community-based curative clinics and preventive family health centers. Community-oriented primary health care (C-OPHC) is the major alternative strategy, which has been developed and evaluated by the Hadassah Teaching and Research Health Center in Kiryat Hayovel, a neighborhood of Jerusalem. The case for adapting this C-OPHC approach throughout the country is presented in a review of existing primary health care services.
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African conditions and circumstances present specific challenges to health service providers. These conditions have implications for primary health care (PHC), including problems of communication (geographical, educational and cultural), maldistribution of health manpower, political unrest and wars. ⋯ Manpower training should be stressed at all levels of education of all medical and paramedical personnel. The status of PHC in the Republic of South Africa is now well recognized, and provision of the required services has a high priority.
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Prevention is a key element of primary health care, as defined by the Alma-Ata Conference and promoted by the World Health Organization. Developed as well as developing countries are giving renewed emphasis to prevention in the planning of health care. Israel has much to gain by placing high priority on prevention in its health policy.
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Since primary health care (PHC) is central to good doctoring and pervades all levels of medical services, a suitable system for teaching it must be developed. Whereas the traditional approach in teaching has been toward a set objective, PHC requires an approach that aims to meet urgent and changing needs. ⋯ Other teaching implications are those of organization and team training and continuing medical education. The conflict between different approaches is considered in an attempt to resolve the problem of who teaches what, when.
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Primary health care services for children should be adapted to the different and varying needs of the community. Specially trained nurses and other health workers can make an important contribution to the primary care of children.