The year 2003 marked the 25th Anniversary of the first International Conference on Primary Health Care held in Alma-Ata in 1978. The Conference identified PHC as the principal strategy for reaching the goal of Health for All. Much has been learned from the experiences in implementing the strategy. Today, our efforts in renewing the call for PHC as a powerful means for transforming the health sector, but also for societal change have never been more relevant, as countries seek to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGS).

During the 44th Directing Council of the Pan American Health Organization held in September of 2003, Member States unanimously adopted Resolution CD44.R6 - Primary Health Care in the Americas: Lessons Learned over 25 years and Future Challenges, which called for the implementation of a series of concrete recommendations to strengthen PHC. The Resolution tasked the Director of PAHO to:

a) incorporate the principles of PHC in the activities of all technical cooperation programs at PAHO, especially those related to the Millennium Development Goals;
b) evaluate the different systems based on PHC and identify and disseminate best practices for policy decisions and implementation;
c) assist in strengthening country capacity in developing a cadre of health workers for PHC;
d) support locally-defined PHC models which are flexible and adaptable;
e) celebrate the 25th anniversary of Alma-Ata with a series of events throughout the Region that would culminate in September, 2004 and
f) collaborate in a participatory manner in the definition of the future strategic and programmatic orientations in primary health care.

For more information please download the PDF versions of the
Agenda and Position Paper