Obituary: Barbara Starfield

Abstract

Barbara Starfield had an unshakeable belief in primary health care as the essential ingredient of an equitable and economical health system. There is lots of evidence that a good relationship with a freely chosen primary-care doctor, preferably over several years, is associated with better care, more appropriate care, better health, and much lower health costs. In any event, her later achievements included co-founding the International Society for Equity in Health, of which she was the first President.