What is primary healthcare?

[0:00]What is primary healthcare? Primary healthcare is the frontline of Australia's healthcare system. Each year, 81% of Australians visit a GP and 69% of Australians receive a prescription of medication. While most Australians will receive primary healthcare from their general practitioner, or GP, in the community, other health professionals also deliver primary care. This includes nurses, midwives, pharmacists, dentists, Aboriginal health workers and other allied health professionals. Primary healthcare focuses on keeping people well and out of hospital. The types of services delivered under primary healthcare are broad ranging and can include health promotion, prevention and screening, early intervention and treatment and management. Services may be targeted towards specific populations or health conditions such as asthma, diabetes, obesity, cancer, mental health and alcohol and other drug use. Primary healthcare services are delivered differently across metropolitan and rural areas due to variations in geography, community, economic factors, infrastructure and accessibility. Governments, organizations and health professionals have a role in ensuring health services meet the needs of communities. Primary health service planning must recognize that social determinants such as housing, education, employment, infrastructure and transport strongly impact the health of individuals and communities. Primary healthcare must build partnerships across sectors to address specific issues affecting the community. Partnerships might include with local hospitals, the social services sector or the education sector. A strong, accessible primary healthcare system supports people to manage their health in the community and ensures they receive the right care, in the right place, at the right time.