Primary health care (PHC) is the "essential health care based on practical, scientifically sound and socially acceptable methods and technology, made universally accessible to individuals and families in the community. It is through their full participation and at a cost that the community and the country can afford to maintain at every stage of their development in the spirit of self-reliance and self-determination". In other words, PHC is an approach to health beyond the traditional health care system that focuses on health equity-producing social policy. PHC includes all areas that play a role in health, such as access to health services, environment and lifestyle. PHC is the first level of contact individuals, families and communities have with the health care system. PHC incorporates personal care with health promotion, the prevention of illness and community development. It includes the interconnecting principles of equity, access, empowerment, community self-determination and inter-sectorial collaboration. In addition, PHC encompasses an understanding of the social, economic, cultural and political determinants of health. Comprehensive primary health care includes health promotion, illness prevention, treatment and care of the sick, community development, and advocacy and rehabilitation. PHC according to World Health Organization (WHO) is the essential health care based on practical, scientifically sound and socially acceptable methods and technology made universally accessible to individuals and families in the community through their full participation and at a cost that the community and country. PHC can afford to maintain at every stage of their development in the spirit of self-reliance and self-determination. It forms an integral part both of the country's health system, of which it is the central function and focus, and of the overall social and economic development of the community. It is the first level of contact of individuals, the family and community with the national health system bringing health care as close as possible to where people live and work, and constitutes the first element of a continuing health care process. The ultimate goal of primary health care is better health for all. The WHO has identified five key elements to achieving that goal: reducing exclusion and social disparities in health (universal coverage reforms); organizing health services around people's needs and expectations (service delivery reforms);integrating health into all sectors (public policy reforms);pursuing collaborative models of policy dialogue (leadership reforms); and increasing stakeholder participation. Levels of care are primary health care, secondary health care and tertiary health care. Elements of PHC are education concerning prevailing health problems and the methods of preventing an controlling them, promotion of food supply and proper nutrition, an adequate supply of safe water and basic sanitation, maternal and child health care including family planning. Additionally, immunization against major infectious diseases, prevention and control local endemic diseases, appropriate treatment of common diseases and provision of essential drugs. Health care planning employed to see which diseases require most attention and, subsequently, which intervention can be most effectively applied as part of primary care in a least-cost method. The targets and effects of Selective PHC are specific and measurable. The approach aims to prevent most health and nutrition problems before they begin.

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