Dr. Krishna Reddy, Maulik Chokshi, and Dr. Uma Aysola recently participated in the thematic working group meetings organized as a part of WHO SEARO’s Regional Forum on Primary Health Care held from June 20 to 22 in Dhaka, Bangladesh.
Dr. Reddy serves as an advisor to the Forum, Dr. Aysola is a member of the thematic working group on Community Engagement, and Mr. Chokshi leads the thematic working group on PHC Investment. The Global Learning Collaborative for Health Systems Resilience is a strategic knowledge partner of the forum.
Member states and partners provided updates on PHC initiatives, including perspectives from WHO and partner organizations. The working groups delved into specific themes such as the PHC workforce, PHC quality, urban PHC, PHC investment, and community engagement. Moderators facilitated breakout sessions to encourage in-depth discussions and the exploration of potential areas for joint action. The sessions culminated in a synthesis of the discussions, where potential areas of action and synergy were identified.
On the final day, the focus shifted to learning from Bangladesh’s experiences in PHC. The agenda included a documentary and virtual introduction of the Bangladesh Community Clinic, as well as a presentation on PHC progress, innovations, and future directions in the country. Breakout working groups addressed operational bottlenecks specific to the Bangladesh context, and the SEAR PHC Forum presented potential areas of action and discussed policy options and operational learning.
The SEAR PHC Forum’s Thematic Working Groups meeting in Dhaka served as a platform for sharing knowledge, collaborating on PHC strategies, and strengthening partnerships to improve healthcare delivery in the Southeast Asia Region.