The International Conference on Primary Health Care, held at Alma-Ata, present-day Kazakhstan, in September 1978, was a landmark in global health care. The Declaration of Alma-Ata that was adopted at that conference successfully refocused attention and energy on primary health care. In a similar manner, the United Nations resolution of 2006 highlighted the dangers of the diabetes pandemic. The underlying philosophy of the Declaration of Alma-Ata is assessed in this editorial, to determine whether it remains relevant for modern and future diabetes care. We highlight the concordance between the Declaration of Alma-Ata and the principles of present-day diabetes care, and come to the conclusion that the 1978 document is relevant for the management of the diabetes pandemic.
Keywords: Diabetes care delivery; Health economics; Health policy; Primary care; Psychosocial management; Type 1 diabetes; Type 2 diabetes.