Health services can be decentralized by the use of basic health care clinics (the most peripheral level of health care) providing simple treatment using the basic units. Such decentralization will: (1) increase the access of the population to curative care; and (2) avoid overcrowding of referral facilities by treating common health problems at the most peripheral level. Standard treatment guidelines included in the kit will provide primary health care workers with information to enable them to take the right decision on treatment or referral, according to the symptoms.

The first referral level should be staffed by professional health care workers, usually medical assistants or doctors, who will use medicines and medical devices from both the basic and supplementary units.

It should be stressed here that the basic and supplementary units are not intended to enable these health care workers to treat rare diseases or major surgical cases. For such patients a second level of referral is needed, usually a district or general hospital. Such facilities are normally part of the national health system and referral procedures should be arranged with the local health authorities.