Atlantic believes that access to quality health care is a fundamental human right, and that the best health outcomes are achieved through primary health care systems based on the principles of equity, health promotion and disease prevention.
However, some groups of people receive health care that differs greatly in quality from the care available to others. The Population Health Programme seeks to improve health and health care for all, especially vulnerable populations, with an emphasis on delivering quality primary health care in local communities and reducing inequities in health care and health outcomes. The programme is active in a number of countries, including South Africa and Viet Nam.
The basis of the programme’s work is our belief that publicly funded health care systems with an ample supply of well-trained primary care professionals offer the best opportunity for ensuring access to care and delivering quality primary care to all. To develop and strengthen the primary health care systems in the countries in which we are active, we work in partnership with schools of public health, governments, other foundations, communities, professional associations and nonprofit organisations. Specifically, the Population Health Programme supports efforts to:
- Educate, train and retain clinical, public health and other allied health professionals to improve the delivery of primary care
- Introduce, evaluate and replicate model programmes for training health professionals, improving clinical care to meet standards of best practice, and delivering care effectively
- Invest in physical and digital infrastructure to facilitate the delivery of quality primary care
- Encourage grassroots advocacy for those who suffer from current inequities in health services and health outcomes.
