Question

What is the distinction between primary care and primary health care. Use examples to support your answer

Answer 1

Primary care

It is one of the defining characteristics of primary health care, it entails both individual patient care and public health functions. Primary care means health promotion, disease prevention, health maintenance, counselling, patient education, diagnosis and treatment of acute and chronic illnesses in a variety of healthcare settings (e.g., office, inpatient, critical care, long-term care, home care, day care, etc.) like vaccination, diabetes management etc

Primary health care

it is the essential health care , which is accessible to individual, family and community through their service and affordable cost. It is the first element of healthcare continuum and is provided by medical professionals in the community.

for example :

• managing and cessation of smoking
• chronic alcoholism
• psychological problems like stress and depression  
• physical inactivity (cerebrovascular accident, coma)