This Viewpoint in The Lancet Public Health describes how countries can close the implementation gap between interventions known to save lives and the care health systems deliver. The RTSL authors argue that primary health care can deliver more health if it is prioritized, proactive and accountable. They write in the context of the abrupt 2025 cut in development assistance for health, which has disrupted health systems, and of new medications, artificial intelligence, telemedicine and connected diagnostics that can increase the impact of primary care.
Key findings:
- An estimated 8.6 million preventable deaths occur each year in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Five million occur among people who visit the health system.
- Prioritized care funds the highest-impact actions first through transparent, nationally owned processes and provides essential medicines free at the point of dispensing.
- Proactive care reaches, tracks and supports patients before and between visits.
The Viewpoint outlines a practical approach for countries and programs: decide which outcomes matter most, identify the actions that produce them, strengthen the systems those actions require and monitor progress.
