Objective

To unveil the concepts of Primary Health Care among institutional and community actors in diverse municipalities of Colombia and point out the health planning guidelines that steer its implementation.

Method

Multi-case study in 13 municipalities with a hermeneutical approach using the patchwork quilt technique in 21 workshops with different actors.

Results

Four conceptual trends in Primary Health Care were found: i) access to quality health services; ii) emphasis on actions to promote health and prevent disease; iii) basic care provided at the first level of complexity, and iv) a broad perspective, interested in the right to health and the intervention of social determinants. The predominant concept was basic care provided at the first level of complexity. The main guideline was the Ten-Year Public Health Plan.

Discussion

The heterogeneity of guidelines and the conceptual differences imply positions that reveal ethical-political stakes in relation to the organization of health systems and health justice. In Colombia, persisting structural conditions typical of the insurance model restrict the appropriation of a comprehensive conception and the development of a public policy based on Primary Health Care.