Declaration of Alma-Ata

The Declaration of Alma-Ata was adopted on September 12, 1978, at the International Conference on Primary Health Care in Alma-Ata, USSR (now Almaty in Kazakhstan). The conference was organised by the World Health Organization and United Nations Children’s Fund.Through this 1,118-word Declaration, the Conference expressed “…the need for urgent action by all governments, all health and development workers, and the world community to protect and promote the health of all the people of the world.” The Declaration also states that governments, international organisations and the world community should aim for “...the attainment by all peoples of the world by the year 2000 of a level of health that will permit them to lead a socially and economically productive life.”Excerpts from the 10 points of the Declaration:I. The Declaration reaffirms that health – a state of complete physical, mental and social wellbeing, not merely the absence of disease or infirmity – is a fundamental human right. The attainment of the highest possible level of health is an important social goal globally. Realising this goal requires the action of many social and economic sectors in addition to the health sector. II. The existing gross inequality in the health status of people – between developed and developing countries, as well as within countries – is politically, socially and economically unacceptable. Therefore, it is of common concern to all countries. III. Economic and social development – based on a ‘New International Economic Order’ –  is important for the attainment of health for all, and for reducing the gap between the health status of the developing and developed countries. The promotion and protection of health is essential for sustained economic and social development; it contributes to a better quality of life and world peace.IV. The Declaration affirms that “The people have the right and duty to participate individually and collectively in the planning and implementation of their health care.”V. It states that “Governments have a responsibility for the health of their people which can be fulfilled only by the provision of adequate health and social measures. A main social target of governments, international organizations and the whole world community in the coming decades should be the attainment by all peoples of the world by the year 2000 of a level of health that will permit them to lead a socially and economically productive life. Primary health care is the key to attaining this target as part of development in the spirit of social justice.”VI. The Declaration defines primary healthcare as “…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 can afford to maintain at every stage of their development in the spirit of self-reliance and self-determination.” Primary healthcare, it says, forms an integral and central part of the country's health system, and the overall social and economic development of the community...