Institutionalizing Primary Health Care at the Level of Undergraduate Education — Didactic and Structural Considerations

Abstract

In this symposium health care needs at the primary level have been analyzed. Practical and operational directives are now needed for the institutionalization of primary health care. However, the clarification of some basic conceptual questions is a precondition for their elaboration. Thus, the term “primary” can be interpreted in two ways. It could mean: “more important than something else,” or it could mean: “preliminary; something more important will follow.” The contributions to this symposium emphasize the first interpretation. However, in a European historical perspective the term “primary” has been given the meaning of preliminary in the sense of “care at the level of first contact; selection for a final and ultimately adequate secondary or tertiary care.” Although such an auxiliary function is also part of a primary care concept, it cannot be the primary concern at the level of educational planning. The most important consideration here is not a quantitative distinction of the primary level from the secondary and tertiary one. The main emphasis will be on aspects which are qualitatively specific for the area of primary health care. At a conceptual level they will be characterized as a systemic view, at a didactic and structural level an interdisciplinary model will be proposed.