The World Health Organization (WHO) has launched a new free online course aimed at strengthening primary health care (PHC) and supporting countries in building more people-centred and resilient health systems.
Focus on Primary Health Care
The self-paced course, titled “The Primary Health Care Approach: A Short Course,” is available through the WHO Academy and takes approximately 1.5 hours to complete.
The course includes five modules covering the importance of primary health care, its three core components, key operational and strategic levers, and approaches to implementing PHC-oriented health system transformation.
Building Health System Capacity
As per the WHO update, the course was adapted from a longer global capacity-building programme launched in 2024. WHO developed the shorter format in response to participant feedback and demand for an accessible introduction to primary health care.
The course uses videos, country examples and additional resources to help learners understand PHC principles and apply them within their own professional and local contexts.
Global Participation
WHO said more than 3,000 participants from over 140 countries had engaged with the course during its initial months, highlighting global interest in strengthening primary health care systems.
The course is currently available in English, with additional language versions under consideration. Participants who complete the course can also receive a WHO Academy Award of Completion.