The reorientation of primary health care in Cameroon

Rationale, obstacles and constraints

Bibliographic Data

ID11490388
AuthorsRene Owona Essomba (Ministry of Public Health), MALCOLM BRYANT (Saskatchewan Health), Claude Bodart
Year1993
Volume8
Issue3
Pages232-239
Publication date1993-01-01
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueHealth Policy and Planning (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0268-1080 • E-ISSN: 1460-2237
PublisherOxford University Press (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1093/heapol/8.3.232
OpenAlexW2135699215
LanguageEN
Citations received9

The reorientation of primary health care (PHC) that was begun in Cameroon in 1989 is presented as a natural response to the economic and health environments prevailing at that time. A brief discussion of the original PHC policy introduced following the Alma-Ata declaration identifies a lack of effective communication between the community and the health services as a major problem. The basic elements of the reorientation are presented and the obstacles and constraints encountered since beginning the reform process in 1989 are described. These have been identified as: an inadequate legal framework; incompatibilities between the political structure and the new health structure; incompatibilities between the goals of the new health policy and the organizational chart of the Ministry of Health; the lack of trained personnel in health management; a highly centralized system of management with poor coordination of human resource management; the slowness of the extension of PHC coverage; the inability of the system to ensure that medicines are available and easily accessible; an inadequate health information system; poor promotion of the new PHC policy; and poor coordination of research activities.

Health care · Library science · Political science · Primary health care · Global Maternal and Child Health · Healthcare Systems and Reforms · Law · Primary Care and Health Outcomes · Health Policy

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