Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, the President of Kazakhstan, took part in the plenary session of the International Conference on Primary Health Care (PHC), which was convened to commemorate the 45th anniversary of the Alma-Ata Declaration and the 5th anniversary of the Astana Declaration on PHC. The conference brought together healthcare leaders, policymakers, and experts from around the world to discuss the critical role of primary healthcare in promoting global well-being.
Addressing the esteemed gathering, President Tokayev underscored the immense historical significance of the Alma-Ata and Astana Declarations, highlighting their pivotal role in shaping the international healthcare landscape.
"45 years ago, the historic Alma-Ata Declaration was adopted, providing the basis for a socially just primary healthcare model. This Declaration became the Magna Carta of global healthcare and has inspired many countries to improve people's health by recognizing it as a fundamental human right. The Alma-Ata Declaration also played a pivotal role in reducing maternal and infant mortality rates as well as increasing life expectancy in many countries. By now, many states have built national healthcare systems driven at their core by primary healthcare. This was reconfirmed five years ago in the Astana Declaration," the President voiced.
President Tokayev emphasized the critical role of primary healthcare systems in early pandemic detection and responding to unforeseen health challenges. He stressed the importance of maintaining a state of readiness within healthcare systems and commended public healthcare organizations for their resilience and adaptability during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
The President also highlighted the measures being undertaken in Kazakhstan to enhance the healthcare system. Notably, he mentioned that all children in the country receive preventive medical examinations, youth health centers are present in nearly every major settlement, and millions of adults undergo screenings and professional examinations each year. Furthermore, he mentioned the significant expansion of primary care clinics in rural areas since 2018 and the integration of digital technologies, such as telemedicine and remote monitoring, to improve healthcare accessibility.
In a forward-looking proposal, President Tokayev suggested the creation of a coalition of countries on primary healthcare with the support of the World Health Organization (WHO). This coalition would aim to promote preventive health principles, develop healthcare recommendations, and strengthen primary healthcare systems worldwide.
President Tokayev expressed his optimism for the younger generation's role in advancing primary health care and the healthcare system as a whole. He encouraged young people to engage in sports activities, emphasizing the importance of hard work and determination in achieving their goals.
The plenary session of the conference also featured speeches by notable healthcare figures, including WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Regional Director for Europe Hans Kluge, and Katherine Rouleau, Head of the Global PHC Unit of the Office of Health System Partnerships at the University of Toronto.
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