The comprehensive definition for primary health care (PHC) , provided by the Alma Ata .

Primary Health care as stated by the Alma Ata declaration is essential health care based on practical , scientifically sound and socially appropriate methods and technology which has been made universally accessible to individuals and families and embraces the principle of full community participation at a cost that the community can afford . (Declaration of Alma-Ata International Conference on Primary Health Care, Alma-Ata, USSR, 6–12 September 1978, 2004) .

For communities this means that health care will be accessible, and equal to all individual. Regardless of any differences . Also that all technologies and method used  are  scientifically and culturally appropriate , affordable ,  will promote good health and emphasize on prevention. This which will bring about positive  results to communities as they are working together to promote good health and improvement of socioeconomic conditions and self reliance .This  includes the involvement of many other sectors which help meet the needs of individuals and communities and contributes to good health.  


PRINCIPLES OF PHC 

The principles of primary health care are the building blocks for what is inherent in the approach of PHC as well as what it is about regarding the promoting of healthcare as well as developing strategies involving several sectors of development .

• Universal coverage of the population with care provided to need .
• Services should be promotive , preventative, curative and rehabilitative.
• Services should be effective , culturally acceptable and manageable 
• Communities should be involved in the development of services and promote self-reliance and increase independence.
• Approaches to health should relate to other sectors of development by having a multi sectoral approach. (WHO,1978)


How the principles ensure that the comprehensive definition of primary healthcare is met.

Universal coverage - Universal coverage ensures that everyone has equal access and equity. This means that all people have access to health care whether they are rich or poor and also that resources that affect health is shared equally which will ensure that everyone gets the help they need.

Promotive, preventative , curative and rehabilitative services –  this principle ensures that people are restored and brought back into good health and also ensures that those who are sick or affected by sicknesses are cured , it also ensures that people are educated about different diseases etc.  This way they have knowledge on how to prevent it. This principle also provides all the essential scientifically sound reasons to people and is based on practical work that people agree on and can do by themselves.

Effective, culturally acceptable and manageable services – for this to be achieved healthcare must be affordable, appropriate and available to anyone. This is evident in most of South Africa. No
person is turned away because of cultural backgrounds, beliefs or financial problems. Therefore we can say that healthcare is affordable as many medications are provided to patient at no cost , however the financial strain comes from transport to and from hospitals , this however is changed as there are now services provided to patients by hospitals which offers free transport. Many health care workers take cultural methods and beliefs of the community into consideration so that they do not offend their clients. Health care services at public health sectors must be appropriate to the needs of communities , for  example if a community has an increase statistic of HIV/AIDS these sectors need to focus on which service will be effective and manageable to positively approach the problem to provide help and change .

Involvement of communities – this principle ensures that the definition is met by encouraging communities to work together and become very actively involved in all processes of defining their health problems and needs. This also gives them a platform to contribute, implement and evaluate programmes according to their needs.

Multi-sectoral approach – for primary healthcare to be achieved all related sectors  : agriculture (food security); education; communication (concerning health problems and the methods of preventing and controlling them) housing; public works ( ensuring the supply of safe water and basic sanitation); rural development;  are and should be involved in ensuring that the health care needs of people are adhered to the health care needs of people to go beyond what the health service provides. However in many countries such as South Africa this is not provided and therefore primary healthcare is not fully achieved in this regard . 

It Is not only important to look at why and if  the definition of primary healthcare is met but also why it is not met. What are the challenges that countries face that for not enable them to flourish in primary health care such as :
 
• Lack of proper education
• Corruption
• Lack of services 
• Mismanagement of services

• Poverty 

By doing this we can focus on the problem in countries , try to manage or fix it and bring about positive change, that will not only impact certain individuals but communities around the world.