Strong PHC leadership and political commitment places primary health care at the heart of efforts to strengthen health systems and achieve universal health coverage, global health security and the Sustainable Development Goals. PHC policies are decisions and plans undertaken by governments—with input from other stakeholders— that employ a primary health care approach to achieve health system goals. In particular, PHC policies should promote, establish, and support the appropriate financing, inputs and service delivery mechanisms needed to ensure quality of care, develop the core PHC functions, and improve population health outcomes. PHC policies also include Right to Health legislation that ensures all people can get the essential health services they need.

Involving and coordinating across entities whose work touches on primary health care, including governments, communities, civil society, private sector, payers, provider associations, and other nongovernmental organizations. This also means developing processes and relationships that enable stakeholders from all these sectors to work together, including regularly soliciting and integrating input from community and sub-national leaders and ensuring effective stewardship and oversight of the private sector in mixed health systems. A multi-sectoral approach is essential for ensuring social accountability and a Health in All Policies approach.

Intentionally designing the system to adapt and respond to health needs and trends within the local population. It requires leaders to regularly generate, collect and analyze information on population health status and needs; appropriately use this information to set and implement priorities; and continually monitor, re-assess, and adapt as needed. This process should consider social determinants of health and a country's epidemiological, political, socioeconomic, and environmental context, all with a focus on equity.