WASHINGTON, D.C. — Results for Development (R4D), in partnership with the Primary Health Care Performance Initiative (PHCPI) and the Joint Learning Network for Universal Health Coverage (JLN), has published a new resource for policymakers, practitioners and development partners on how to implement primary health care networks. The resource is based on lessons learned from a community of practice (COP) focused on measuring and strengthening primary health care.
“This product, developed through a collaborative learning process among primary health care leaders and implementers from around the globe, shares practical lessons and recommendations for countries that are improving the financing and delivery of primary health care,” said Amanda Folsom, a senior program director at R4D. “As countries recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, they are re-focusing on primary health care as the backbone of resilient health systems. This product provides a timely look at how countries in different contexts are innovating to deliver essential health services through primary care networks and highlights country demand for more cross-country learning, evidence generation, and support to improve primary health care.”
To strengthen primary health care financing and delivery and improve access to and use of care, a growing number of countries are implementing primary care networks (PCNs). Primary care networks are networks of collaborating primary care providers working together to provide quality primary care to patients in a coordinated approach.
Because PCNs are still emerging as a well-understood model for organizing primary care, R4D and its partners recognized a unique opportunity for knowledge generation and cross-country collaborative learning about how to design, implement, and scale up PCNs.
Beginning in 2020, in partnership with R4D, the JLN and PHCPI launched a COP to facilitate action-oriented peer learning with an emphasis on primary care. The learning exchanges focused on transforming the health system to prioritize primary health care, using data in COVID-19 response and recovery, and implementing and measuring the performance of primary care networks.
The COP enabled a broader community of learners to follow and learn from three country teams implementing PCNs — Colombia, Ghana, and Kenya— and share knowledge and experiences with their peers. The COP also produced a resource, Transforming Primary Health Care Delivery and Financing Through Primary Care Networks, that highlights key takeaways on how to successfully implement PCNs.
Over three years during the COVID-19 pandemic, the COP worked to support countries to transform their PHC systems to be more responsive and resilient. Participant feedback and results suggest that the COP provided an important and valued forum for cross-country experience-sharing and learning. The experience also highlighted the need for deeper and sustained systematic learning initiatives for countries to continue to improve PHC to better meet the needs of their populations. Collaborative learning that is demand-driven, responsive, and tailored to implementers’ needs can help countries accelerate their progress.
- To read the full report, click here.
- To read the Spanish version of the report, click here.
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About Results for Development
Results for Development (R4D) is a leading non-profit global development partner. We collaborate with change agents — government officials, civil society leaders and social innovators — supporting them as they navigate complex change processes to achieve large-scale, equitable outcomes in health, education and nutrition. We work with country leaders to diagnose challenges, co-create, innovate and implement solutions built on evidence and diverse stakeholder input, and engage in learning to adapt, iterate and improve. We also strengthen global, regional and country ecosystems to support country leaders with expertise, evidence, and innovations. R4D helps country leaders solve their immediate challenges today, while also strengthening systems and institutions to address tomorrow’s challenges. And we share what we learn so others around the world can achieve results for development too. www.R4D.org
Photo © Irene Angwenyi, USAID/Kenya.
