Primary health care is the day-to-day care needed to protect, maintain or restore our health. For most people, it is both their first point of contact with the health care system and their most frequently used health service. Visiting a family physician, discussing a prescription with a pharmacist, or speaking with a registered nurse via HealthLine are all examples of how Saskatchewan residents access primary health care every day. In fact, these types of exchanges account for 80 per cent of all interactions in our health care system, making the delivery of effective primary health care services critical to the success of our entire health care system.

Saskatchewan is working to strengthen its primary health care system to better serve the needs of patients and communities. This process builds on current successes, adopts best practices from other jurisdictions, and engages patients, community leaders, providers, and administrators in developing better everyday health care services. The strengthening of primary health care represents a fundamental shift in how our health system works. By transforming the way the system operates today, we can ensure quality services are there when we need them tomorrow.

Our vision is a primary health care system that is sustainable, offers a superior patient experience and results in a healthy Saskatchewan population. The strengthened primary health care system will provide a new foundation for health care in this province. It will ensure that everyone has access to a team that meets his or her unique health care needs.

Patient-Centred, Community Designed, Team Delivered - Saskatchewan's new framework for primary health care - lays the foundation for a system that will be characterized by continuous improvement and innovation.

Find out what is happening throughout the province, including new initiatives, progress updates and news related to primary health care in the Regional Health Authorities.

News Release:  $3.6 Million Invested in Primary Health Care Innovation - May 8, 2012

Video:  Health Minister Don McMorris announcing Primary Health Care funding - May 8, 2012