Primary health care involves providing services to individuals, families, communities and populations and involves a proactive approach to preventing health problems before they occur and ensuring better management and follow-up once a health problem has occurred. Since many of the factors that affect health occur outside of the health system, primary health care proactively works with intersectoral partners and community groups to address broader community needs.

A system of primary health care engages the community in addressing broader community needs, and strengthens the linkage to agencies and organizations such as social services, the educational system, recreational facilities and groups, police, municipal governments and other local community organizations that directly impact the determinants.

Primary health care encompasses preventive, promotive, curative, supportive and rehabilitative services. Primary health care serves as the umbrella for many basic health programs and services, which include home care, public health, mental health, addiction and drug abuse services, primary medical care, long term care, emergency services, end of life care, laboratory and X-ray services and therapy services.

Primary health care serves to enhance people's physical and mental well-being, while addressing the emotional and spiritual needs of individuals. To meet people's basic health needs, health care professionals work together as an interdisciplinary team to deliver a range of services using a holistic approach. For example, the public health nurse visits schools and new moms; the family doctor sees patients in his or her office; the nutritionist provides education on diets for people with diabetes; and the home care worker provides personal care in people's homes.