Health at the margins: Lessons for primary care
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Summary
Nearly 50 years after the Alma-Ata Declaration of 1978, primary healthcare remains one of the core tenets of global health. Governments endorse it; international organisations advocate for it; and researchers routinely point to it as the foundation of equitable health systems. Despite this broad consensus, surprisingly little agreement exists about what primary healthcare constitutes in practice. For some, it refers to a package of services delivered through clinics and health centres clos
Key Facts
TypeLong read
SourceIDR Online
PublishedThursday, 27 August 2026
Affected Population1.4 billion citizens, 5 million healthcare workers
Key Numbers
Health budget: Rs 90,958 crore (2025-26)
Target: 2.5% of GDP public health spending
1.5 lakh Health & Wellness Centres planned
PM-JAY: 55 crore beneficiaries
Key Authorities
Key Stakeholders
Government Context
NDA IIIBJP-led NDA
LeftCentreRight