Prevent Illness; Detect Disease Early

Primary healthcare should carry a strong prevention and early-detection mission. That includes appropriate vaccination, maternal and child health, antenatal care, health education, screening where evidence supports it, early detection of high-burden conditions, outbreak surveillance and other preventive services suited to the population.

Prevention must be evidence-based. This proposal does not claim that every screening or prevention intervention saves money, and the detailed programmes, eligibility rules and delivery standards belong in health policy, legislation, costing and implementation work.

Prevent illness where we can. Detect it early where we cannot. Treat it before it becomes more dangerous, more disabling and more expensive to manage.