The International Seminar on Primary Health Care (PHC) in the CPLP Member States took place from November 20 to 22 at the CPLP Headquarters in Lisbon. This initiative brought together experts and health leaders from Portuguese-speaking countries to discuss and promote the strengthening of Primary Health Care within the Community.
The event was organized by GHTM | IHMT-NOVA and the National Council of Health Secretaries (CONASS) — respectively, a member and coordinator of the Thematic Commission on Health and Food and Nutritional Security of the CPLP Advisory Observers — in partnership with the Executive Secretariat of the Community of Portuguese-Speaking Countries (CPLP).
In an interview with LUSA, Professor Filomeno Fortes, director of IHMT-NOVA, stated, “From a health perspective, we have CPLP countries that are on different continents and that have different levels of socioeconomic development, and therefore, there is great diversity in terms of the disease landscape,” emphasizing that “regardless of government philosophy, primary health care remains the foundation of any national health system.”
The seminar highlighted primary health care as the central pillar of the health systems of the CPLP Member States, presenting a comprehensive and diverse program that included sessions by Professors Paulo Ferrinho, Filomeno Fortes, and Maria do Rosário Oliveira Martins.
Participants of the seminar reaffirmed the principles of Alma-Ata and Astana, recognizing health as a fundamental human right. They highlighted the persistent inequalities between and within the CPLP Member States, which are obstacles to health for all, and the need to align the principles of Alma-Ata with the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Discussions emphasized current challenges such as the rise of non-communicable diseases, traffic accidents, and climate change, as well as the interrelation between human, animal, and environmental health. The need for health planning that prioritizes PHC and sustainable government support was highlighted, along with the importance of culturally appropriate health communication. It was concluded that universal health coverage is essential to developing universal health systems, and Member States must commit to this goal. Future actions suggested include a workshop on Health Care Planning and a Digital Health assessment in Member States in 2025.
Updated December 31, 2024