Questioning global health in the times of COVID-19: Re-imagining primary health care through the lens of politics of knowledge

This paper critiques the inequitable global response to the COVID-19 pandemic, arguing that a re-evaluation of global health policy and planning is necessary. It focuses on the limited implementation of the Primary Health Care (PHC) approach, despite its relevance, and proposes a deeper analysis through the lens of the politics of knowledge (PoK). The authors contend that neglecting the dominant knowledge paradigm within the Alma-Ata Declaration (1978) has hindered PHC's application. By applying a PoK framework, the paper examines power dynamics in knowledge generation and translation, highlighting the need to challenge the existing techno-centric and commodified health system. A new health service system design, 'PHC Version 2.0', is proposed, aiming to address the PoK gap and operationalize the spirit of the Alma-Ata Declaration, particularly in Asia, Africa, and Latin America, fostering self-reliance and democratizing health policy.

Ritu Priya, Amitabha Sarkar, Sayan Das, Rakhal Gaitonde, Prachinkumar Ghodajkar, Mohit P. Gandhi