In a ceremony at the 69th World Health Assembly, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has awarded the Sasakawa Health Prize 2016 to Medicus Mundi Spain (FAMME) for its project entitled “The Transformation of Public Health Systems Based on the principles of Primary Health Care (PHC)”, thanks to the initiative of the Spain’s Ministry for Health.

Medicus Mundi Spain has been developing this bold and innovative project, which is based on the principles of primary health care, in Bolivia, El Salvador, Guatemala and Peru. It has already been recognised by institutions such as the PanAmerican Health Organisation (PAHO) and the Carlos Slim Foundation.

The project that has been awarded the prize fits within the comprehensive and inclusive healthcare “model” on the first level of care. The “model was conceived as a long-term strategy to promote healthcare reform using an alternative, rights-based, vision and through comprehensive and inclusive care aimed at reducing inequality.

The main players in this project are healthcare personnel, community health workers, traditional therapists, municipal and community authorities, and families and the general population. medicusmundi dedicates this prize to them with admiration and affection.

The funds received will be used to carry out research that will enable Medicus Mundi Spain to continue improving the care that people receive. This will take into account the three levels of care that have an effect on health: individual, family and community.

The prize-giving took place on 27 May, in a ceremony at the World Health Assembly, which meets in Geneva (Switzerland). It reinforced the conviction of Medicus Mundi Spain that must not disregard the bottom layer of the healthcare pyramid, but instead must get involved with primary health care.

Medicus Mundi Spain is thankful for all the support it has received for this project from every Minister of each country, which was certainly a determining factor in the jury’s decision to award the Sasakawa Health Prize.