Director-General's: message.(Editorial)

When I took office in 2007, I made clear my commitment to direct WHO's attention towards primary health care. More important than my own conviction, this reflects the widespread and growing demand for primary health care from Member States. This demand in turn displays a growing appetite among policy-makers for knowledge related to how health systems can become more equitable, inclusive and fair.

It also reflects, more fundamentally, a shift towards the need for more comprehensive thinking about the performance of the health system as a whole.

This year marks both the 60th birthday of WHO and the 30th anniversary of the Declaration of Alma-Ata on Primary Health Care …