An Introduction to Community and Primary Health Care

This chapter explores the relationship between primary health care, health literacy and health education with empowering individuals, groups and communities to improve and maintain optimum health. Within the primary health care philosophy, principles of accessibility, affordability, sustainability, social justice and equity, self-determination, community participation and intersectoral collaboration drive health care service delivery and health care reform. Health care reform aims to meet the health care needs of people and communities through developing a sustainable health care system to reduce health disparity and improve health outcomes for all Australians and New Zealanders. A key component of this is developing the health literacy of consumers, health care providers and health care systems.