Implementing evidence-based medicine (EBM) in primary healthcare for Indigenous people will usually involve increasing services, particularly those for chronic conditions. As shown by the example of diabetes care, there are significant organisational, educational, economic, cultural and structural barriers to implementing EBM in many Indigenous communities. Many of these barriers could be reduced by better-organised service delivery systems at the community level, greater numbers of Indigenous health professionals and greater advocacy for healthy public policy by health services. There is evidence that delivering evidence-based primary healthcare, particularly for chronic diseases, can improve health outcomes in Indigenous communities. There is a need for more investment in strategies to implement EBM and evidence-based public health in Indigenous settings.