Compassion and primary health care

This document explores the critical role of compassion in primary health care (PHC), synthesizing findings from a five-year exploration, initiated in response to a call from the WHO Director-General. Compassion – characterized by awareness, empathy, and action – is identified as a transformative force for PHC, driving quality care and health system transformation. The text links compassion to the WHO Operational Framework for PHC, describing its applicability across strategic and operational levers. Drawing from twelve Global Health Compassion Rounds, it presents key insights into the relationship between compassion and diverse health care themes. Designed as a foundational resource for health leaders and practitioners, the document offers actionable insights on harnessing compassion to enhance population health. It argues that compassion is both foundational to PHC and a catalyst for transformation, proposing three strategic approaches to embed compassion at the heart of PHC-focused efforts.