**7. The importance of the 1978 Alma Ata declaration in health service provision**

The 1978 Alma Ata declaration envisaged primary health care to be the vehicle to achieve health for all. However, this outcome can only be achieved if the key principles of the Alma Ata are implemented, which include the requirement that services be driven by community needs and priorities, which will encourage and enable community participation, and the strengthening of the capacity of the district management system [30]. Because the cost of care increases with the level of care, primary health care services are at the most cost effective level for offering health care, which is ideal for a resource-constrained country like South Africa. However, failing to offer such services increases health care costs because of additional complications which needs to be addressed at a higher level of care, and which comes with higher costs and requires longer treatment periods.
