Primary health centers (PHCs) are the basic structural and functional unit of public health services in rural areas. PHCs provide primary healthcare to populations of 20,000-30,000 people. They act as a referral unit for 6 subcenters and refer more serious cases to community health centers. PHCs have 4-6 beds for patients, diagnostic facilities, and staff including medical officers and nurses. They provide a range of primary healthcare services like maternal and child care, family planning, treatment of common illnesses, and health promotion activities.

1. PRIMARY HEALTHCENTER
(PHC)
Mr.Vikas A. Ghadge
RJS College of Nursing

3. Introduction
• Primary health centers are the corner stone of
rural health services .
• It act as a referral unit for 6 sub centers and refer
out cases to CHCs .
• It covers a population of 30,000 in plain area
and 20,000 in hilly and tribalarea.
• There are 4-6 beds for patients and some diagnostic
facilities are alsoavailable.

4. Definition
• The primary health center (PHC) is the basic
structural and functional unit of the public health
services in developing countries, to provide
accessible, affordable, and available primary health
care to people.
OR
• “Primary health centers some times referred to as
public health centers”.

5. Goals & Principles
 To reducing exclusion and social disparities in health.
 To organizing health services around people's needs
and expectations.
 To integrating health into all sectors .
 To pursuing collaborative models of policy dialogue
(leadership reforms).
 Health workforce developments.
 Community participation.

6. Objectives
• To provide comprehensive primary health care to
the community at PHCs.
• To achieve and maintain an acceptable standards of
quality of care.
• To make the services more responsive and sensitive
to the need of the community.

7. Infrastructure
The PHC should have its own building. It should also have:
• Sign board
• Entrance with Barrier free access
• Disaster prevention measures (desirable for new upcoming
facilities)
• Environmental friendly features
• Out Patient Department (OPD)
• Wards (4-6 beds in a Primary Health Centre)
• WaitingArea
• Labor room
• Laboratory

8. Cont…
• Minor OT/Dressing Room/Injection Room/Emergency
• Dirty utility room for dirty linen and used items
• Computer facility with internet for MIS (Management
Information System)
• Provision of new born care corner in the facility
• One room for counseling
• ResidentialAccommodation
• Waste disposal pit,
• Cold chain, logistic and generator room
• Boundary wall/Fencing

9. Layout of PHC

10. Types of PHC
•From service delivery angle, PHCs may be of two
types, depending upon delivery case load:
• Type “A” PHC: PHC with delivery load of
less than 20 deliveries per month.
• Type “B” PHC: PHCwith delivery load of
20 or more deliveries per month.

11. Staffing Pattern

12. Type B (PHC)
• For Type B PHCs, additional staff in the from of one
MBBS medical officer (desirable, If the case load of
delivery cases is more than 30 per month) one Staff
Nurse and one sanitary worker cum watchman have
been provided have been provided to take care of
additional delivery case load.
• Medical Officer should be available on call duty to
manage emergencies.
• Accommodation for at least one MO & 3 staff nurses
will be provided.

13. Functions

14. Drugs in PHC
• All the drugs available in the Sub-Centre should also be
available in the PHC. All the drugs as per state/UT
essential drug list shall be available.
• In addition, all the drugs required for the National
Health Programmes and emergency management
should be available in adequate quantities so as to
ensure completion of treatment by all patients.
• Drugs of that discipline of AYUSH to be made available
for which the doctor is present.

15. Service provided by PHC
• Medical care 24 x 7
• Maternal and child health care includingfamily
planning
• Medical termination of pregnancy
• Management of RTIand STI
• Nutrition services
• School health
• Adolescent health care
• Promotion of safe drinking water and basic
sanitation

16. Cont…
• Prevention and control of locally endemic disease.
• Collection and reporting of vital events.
• Health education and behavior change
communication.
• Other national health programme :
• Referral services
• Training
• Basic laboratory services

17. Summary
• Primary health center is the first contact point
between the village community and the medical
officer. it provides curative, preventive and promotive
services to thepeoples.

18. Bibliography
• Park, K.(2009).Park’s Textbook Of Preventive
And Social Medicin. Jabalpur, M/S Banarasidas
Bhanote. Page No.805.
• Swarnakar Kesav.(2013).Community Health
Nursing. Indore , Nr Brothers. Page No 601.
• Gulani K.K.(2015) Community Health
Nursing. Delhi, Kumar Publishing
House.Page No 337.
• Www.Google.Com Primary Health Center
Wikipidia.In