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Primary health care and community based rehabilitation :

by Bury, Tracy
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Journals, eBooks, Papers, Articles, Magazines Journals, eBooks, Papers, Articles, Magazines October 2003 1 Available

Breifing paper electronic

The number of disabled people is increasing steadily with only a minority receiving accessible and appropriate rehabilitation services. International policy exists to promote primary health care. In addition the protection of the human rights of individuals and the social inclusion of disabled people are embedded in international policy and legislation. How disability and disabled people are viewed affects the extent to which they are integrated into society. The terms primary health care and community-based rehabilitation (CBR) are open to interpretation, although internationally recognised statements / definitions exist. The general concepts and principles involved are generally agreed worldwide but the nature of services referred to by the terms varies internationally. There is a need for a stronger orientation towards rehabilitation in primary health care services, balanced with the current emphasis on health promotion and disease prevention. Health care systems vary worldwide. This requires a flexible, responsive and innovative approach to developing services that are reflective of local needs, environments and available resources. Physical therapy provision is insufficient for the needs of most countries, therefore service delivery models need to be developed that result in the skills and knowledge of physical therapists meeting the needs of a higher proportion of those in need. Physical therapists are able to contribute to CBR programmes through a variety of roles. Multi-professional, inter-agency and cross-sectoral collaboration is vital for the development of CBR and primary health care. The physical therapy profession needs to address the perceived lower status conferred on those who work in the community or rural settings. Physical therapy professional education needs to equip physical therapists with the appropriate knowledge and skills to work in a variety of settings as well as promoting the value of working in these settings. Physical therapists should be aware of the current international review of CBR and ready to assess and act on its implications. WCPT's new Declaration of Principle on primary health care and Position Statement on CBR, as well as the revised Declaration of Principle on education should assist the profession, and therefore client care, in developing these areas of practice.

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