Primary Health Centre (India)

Primary Health Center located in the Kalbal area of Ichgam in January 2021

A primary health centre Endla, Rajasthan.

Primary Health Centre (PHC) in India is the basic structural and functional unit of the public health services in rural areas. It is part of the Indian government's health care system, aimed at providing accessible, affordable, and quality health care to the rural population. The concept of PHCs was introduced by the Bhore Committee in 1946, which laid the foundation for a nationwide primary health care system.

Overview

A Primary Health Centre is designed to provide integrated curative and preventive health care to the rural population with emphasis on preventive and promotive aspects of health care. The PHCs serve as a referral unit for 6 Sub-Centers and have a defined population coverage of approximately 20,000 to 30,000 people in plain areas and 10,000 to 20,000 in hilly, tribal, or difficult areas. Each PHC is supposed to be staffed by a team of health workers including a qualified doctor, nurses, pharmacists, laboratory technicians, and others.

Services Offered

The range of services provided by PHCs includes:

• Outpatient services
• Immunization
• Maternal and child health services
• Family planning services
• Minor surgery
• Health education
• Disease control programs
• Basic laboratory services
• Emergency services

Infrastructure and Staffing

The infrastructure of a PHC typically includes a building with outpatient and inpatient facilities, a laboratory, residential quarters for staff, and a drug store. The standard staffing pattern for a PHC includes one medical officer, one public health nurse, one auxiliary nurse midwife, one pharmacist, and one laboratory technician. However, there is often a shortfall in the actual staffing against these standards.

Challenges

PHCs in India face several challenges including:

• Inadequate infrastructure
• Shortage of healthcare personnel
• Inadequate supply of medicines
• Poor quality of care
• Low community participation

Government Initiatives

The Government of India has launched several initiatives to strengthen PHCs, including the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) and the Ayushman Bharat program. These programs aim to improve the infrastructure, provide additional healthcare workers, improve the quality of healthcare services, and increase accessibility to healthcare services in rural areas.

Conclusion

Primary Health Centres play a crucial role in the delivery of healthcare services to India's rural population. Despite facing several challenges, PHCs remain the backbone of rural healthcare, providing essential services to millions of people. Government initiatives aimed at strengthening PHCs are critical for improving the health outcomes of India's rural population.