On 26 March 2026, a consultative meeting on the Practical Manual for Social Workers in Primary Health Care (PHC) was held bringing together a wide range of stakeholders from the health and social systems.
Participants included representatives from the Ministry of Health and Social Protection, subordinate institutions, the Health Care Services Operator, managers of health centres, family physicians, nurses, social workers, and other primary health care professionals.
The purpose of the meeting was to present the draft manual and gather feedback from field practitioners, with the aim of improving its content and ensuring its practical applicability. Discussions focused on identifying implementation challenges and opportunities, as well as aligning the manual with the legal and organisational framework of PHC.
The meeting followed a participatory methodology, combining presentations with group work and plenary discussions. Participants, organised into small groups composed of professionals and institutional representatives, addressed key issues such as:
- the role and functions of the social worker in PHC;
- collaboration within multidisciplinary teams;
- inter-institutional coordination and referral;
- as well as case documentation and management.
The discussions brought forward concrete field experiences, helping to identify both effective practices and areas requiring improvement. In particular, emphasis was placed on the need to clarify roles within teams, strengthen inter-institutional coordination mechanisms, and ensure practical tools for case documentation and follow-up.
This consultative process represents an important step towards finalising a practical document aimed at supporting social workers in delivering more coordinated, high-quality, and community-oriented services in primary health care.