Understanding Primary, Secondary and Tertiary Healthcare
Healthcare is delivered at three main levels: primary, secondary and tertiary care. Primary care is usually the first point of contact. It covers routine treatment, preventive care, health education and management of common acute or chronic illnesses at clinics, homes, schools and similar settings. Secondary care involves referrals to specialists or community hospitals when a patient needs more advanced expertise or treatment. It may include surgery, emergency care, laboratory tests, medical imaging, maternity services, physiotherapy and inpatient treatment. Tertiary care is provided by specialist hospitals with highly advanced facilities. Examples include trauma and burn centres, organ transplant services, radiation oncology, neonatal intensive care and treatment for high-risk pregnancies. Access to healthcare can still be difficult in low-income communities because of user fees, transport costs and other barriers. Electronic health records are also becoming more important, while the separation of prescribing and dispensing medicines helps strengthen accountability in medical care.
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