Direct investments at primary health care: Minister

Health and HIV-AIDS Minister Sir Dr Puka Temu says financial investment in health must be directed at primary health care.
Sir Puka told the 8th Apec high-level meeting on health and economy at International Convention Centre yesterday that this would only be possible in an environment in which hospital and community services were managed as one.
“It is also essential to me to break down any false view that primary health care is only provided at a community health centre,” he said.
“Hospitals at all levels deliver primary care through immunisation, health messages to patients, counselling and pathology testing.
“This important role of hospitals needs to be more clearly understood and acknowledged.
“I am setting targets for all health services in this model to ensure primary health care activities are carried out as close as possible to where the client lives.”