Role of community health needs and assets assessment in promoting PHC-oriented models of care

Abstract

The Primary Health Care (PHC) approach is essential to ensuring that individuals and communities receive quality health services without financial hardship, thereby advancing Universal Health Coverage (UHC). PHC-oriented models of care promote people-centered services that are accessible, comprehensive, and responsive to the needs of individuals and communities. However, practical tools and approaches are needed to guide the shift from traditional disease-based models to integrated, people-centered systems tailored to diverse and evolving population needs. To facilitate this transition, the WHO Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean (EMRO) developed a Community Health Needs and Assets Assessment (CHNAA) guide to assist member states in integrating community voices into local health planning and decision-making, and aligning services with identified community priorities to advance PHC-oriented care. This perspective paper, grounded in a review of literature, policy guidance, and regional implementation experiences, outlines the rationale behind the guide, its core principles, and its potential to support health system reforms toward more resilient and equitable care in the Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR).