New ways of measuring primary health care.

Our ability to measure primary health care has come a long way. 

While global PHC commitments extend back decades, as recently as 2015, there was no globally-endorsed comprehensive framework for defining, measuring and monitoring primary health care. And around the time that PHCPI developed its early Conceptual Framework, only 25% of its essential building blocks could be evaluated through well-established measures.

Times have changed. Since 2018, the Primary Health Care Performance Initiative has partnered with 30+ countries to date to develop a Vital Signs Profile: an actionable snapshot showing the strengths and weaknesses of primary health care in the health system. Taken together, these Vital Signs Profiles have offered a wealth of lessons learned and areas for continued action.

In 2022, two core partners of PHCPI — WHO and UNICEF — released the landmark Primary Health Care Measurement Framework and Indicators. This represents the first-ever globally-normative and -endorsed framework of its kind, and the culmination of years of hard work and partnership, including across members of PHCPI. Other PHCPI resources like the PHC digital hub aim to help individuals and organizations unpack the key concepts from this framework and see how they link back to concepts from other PHCPI tools and resources. Explore all of these resources above & below. 

Additional measurement resources

Guidance VSP Process Guide

Step-by-step guidance for countries to produce a Vital Signs Profile.

Guidance How to Read and Use the VSP

Guidance for how to read the Vital Signs Profile.

Report Measuring What Matters

Case studies on data innovations for strengthening primary health care.

Report Taking Stock of the Global PHC Measurement Landscape

Identifies conceptual and practical areas where PHC measurement is aligned and where there are gaps.

Methodology Note How VSP Profiles are Constructed

Explains how the Vital Signs Profile scores are constructed.

BETA PROTOTYPE A Simplified Guide to Empanelment

Panels for Population Health