Keywords: Primary Health Care, Healthcare Policy, Core Values, Quality Improvement, Delphi Study
Introduction:
Primary healthcare (PHC) plays a pivotal role in promoting population health, advancing equity, and ensuring long-term sustainability in health systems. Despite its recognized value, PHC often reimains underprioritized in European health policies, leading to significant gaps in its implementation. To address these challenges, this study aimed to develop a strategic roadmap to build resilient, patient-centered, and equitable PHC systems across Europe.
Method:
A two-round Delphi study was conducted involving 210 stakeholders from 35 countries, including PHC professionals, policymakers, and public health experts. Participants assessed the importance, feasibility, and political priority of core PHC values, structural requirements, and necessary process adaptations. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and content analysis. Consensus was defined as at least 70% agreement among participants.
Results:
The study achieved consensus on key PHC values such as accessibility, equity, and coordinated care. However, feasibility and policy prioritization varied significantly across countries. Key recommendations included investing in workforce development, especially in underserved areas, and advancing health information systems and telehealth integration. Structural improvements, such as safer facilities and standardized service portfolios, and process adaptations focused on chronic disease management, preventive care, and end-of-life support, were highlighted. The roadmap also emphasized the need for continuous learning and innovation through data-driven approaches.
Conclusions:
The roadmap provides actionable guidance for policymakers to strengthen PHC systems across Europe, fostering resilience, equity, and sustainability. By addressing these recommendations, European health systems can achieve enhanced patient-centered care and improved population health outcomes, reinforcing PHC as the cornerstone of health policy and practice.
#15
EQuiP is open to both Individual and Organizational Memberships. EQuiP offers a platform to improve the knowledge base and to improve closer collaboration between GPs / Family Doctors, researchers, educators, policy makers and organisations involved in quality and safety in family medicine and primary care.
