Global Conference on Primary Healthcare was organized to take place in Astana, Kazakhstan on 25-26 October 2018. Turkey is represented by Deputy Minister of Health Prof. Dr. Emine Alp Meşe in the Conference hosting many health ministers and high-level representatives from all over the world.
This year is the 40th anniversary of Alma-Ata Declaration which is making a call to the world states for development of primary healthcare services. This Conference, too, held on the same territory but in Astana this time, underlines the importance of well-organized primary healthcare services and achievement of universal health coverage to have sustainable health systems. On the first day of the Conference, the message was to develop human capital and use digital technology in health.
The Conference reiterated the achievements of health systems in the last 40 years, and praised success of the Turkey in the field of maternal-infant health.
In the declaration of the first day, the states focused on:
In spite of the achievements in the last 40 years, there are still people who cannot benefit from health services all around the world, and it is even difficult to remain healthy for poor and vulnerable groups. Therefore, inequality in health is morally, politically, socially and economically unacceptable.
The determination to fight with non-communicable diseases caused by tobacco use, alcohol consumption, unhealthy lifestyles, physical inactivity and unhealthy diet was also underlined in the declaration, in addition to many other health threats such as wars, violence, epidemics, natural disasters and climate change.
In the last part of the declaration, states commit to adopt courageous political decisions for health in all sectors and create sustainable primary healthcare services.
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