Glossary: P

The extent to which a person participates in decision-making – in this document regarding his or her own health care and health system. Social participation is the right and the capacity of the population to participate effectively and responsibly in health decisions and implementation of such decisions. Social participation in health is an aspect of civic participation, a condition inherent to the exercise of freedom, democracy, social control over public action, and equity.

An approach to care that consciously adopts the perspectives of individuals, carers, families and communities as participants in and beneficiaries of trusted health systems that respond to their needs and preferences in humane and holistic ways. Peoplecentred care also requires that people have the education and support they need to make decisions and participate in their own care.

Care approaches and practices in which the person is seen as a whole, with many levels of needs and goals, the needs being derived from their personal social determinants of health.

Health services targeted at the individual, including health promotion, timely disease prevention, diagnosis and treatment, rehabilitation, palliative care, acute care and long-term care services.

An approach to health services that uses information about the population to make decisions about health planning, management, and geographical location. Such an approach seeks to improve the effectiveness and equity of interventions, and to achieve improved health and distribution of health in the population. This is achieved in the context of the culture, health status, and health needs of the geographical, demographic, or cultural groups represented by a population.

An approach to health care that seeks to improve the health outcomes of a group of individuals, including the distribution of such outcomes within the group.

Health services targeted at the population as a whole with the aim to improve health and well-being on a large scale.

A key process in the health system that supports first-contact, accessible, continued, comprehensive and coordinated patient-focused care.

A whole-of-society approach to health that aims to maximize the level and distribution of health and well-being through three components: (a) primary care and essential public health functions as the core of integrated health services; (b) multisectoral policy and action; and (c) empowered people and communities.

Health system organized and operated to guarantee the right to the highest attainable level of health as the main goal, while maximizing equity and solidarity. A primary health care-oriented health system is composed of a core set of structural and functional elements that support achieving universal coverage and access to services that are acceptable to the population and equity enhancing.