The Alma Ata Conference, back in 1978, seems far away; since then, the world order has changed. However, Primary Health Care (PHC) has proved to be the most effective and efficient model for the construction of sound equitable health care systems aiming at universal coverage. This being the case, why is it that PHC doesn’t get the necessary attention and resources to be promoted on a global scale, especially in developing countries, such as Mozambique?

Next year a documentary on the application of the PHC principles in Mozambique shot by medicusmundi will be released. Directed by KANAKI Films, the documentary explores the main breakthroughs and challenges in the country’s health sector, and reviews the historical, political, social and economic aspects which have had or still have a particular incidence in their basic social services, especially in the health sector. Among other relevant issues, it addresses government’s leadership in a sector highly dependent on an extremely fragmented foreign aid; the fact that a large part of the donor community continues to prioritize vertical interventions, which play a great role in the monitoring of AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis at the expense of the national policy promoting PHC; the struggle for universal healthcare and the strengthening of the public system within the context of a growing aggressive market economy, resulting from the exploitation of mineral resources ; the increasingly evident urban/rural duality, which has a dramatic impact on healthcare services equity and access; as well as the trend towards an increase in private healthcare services.

The documentary, shot in the city of Maputo as well as in the province of Cabo Delgado, has involved the participation of key figures from the Health Ministry, European and African research centres, Mozambican civil society, international NGOs, donor community representatives, national healthcare system workers and users.

medicusmundi wishes this documentary would help to fuel debate on the need to develop a shared vision between government, civil society and donors regarding the healthcare model Mozambique needs if it is to secure the Alma Ata dream of “Health for All”. The documentary is now being edited. We will soon inform you of the premiere release date.

Translated from Spanish by Sílvia Aymerich