- Under the latest expansion spree, the Central government is adding services, including screening, prevention, control & management of non-communicable diseases, care for common ophthalmic & ENT problems, basic oral health care, elderly and palliative health care services, emergency medical services, and screening and management of mental health ailments.
- Additionally, to complement the expanded services, the essential list of medicines and diagnostics has been expanded to make available 171 medicines at Primary Health Care-Health and Wellness Centres (HWCs) and 105 at Secondary Health Care-HWC and 63 diagnostics at PHC-HWC and 14 at SHC-HWC.
- A new cadre of Community Health Officers, 1.29 lakh in position, has been introduced at the level of SHC-HWC to act as clinicians as well as public health managers and to lead the team of Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHA), Anganwadi Workers (AWW) and Auxiliary Nurse Midwifes (ANM).
- The goal is to provide Comprehensive Primary Health Care (CPHC), including both maternal and child health services and non-communicable diseases as well as free essential drugs and diagnostic services through AB-HWCs closer to the homes of people.
Question:
Q.1 How many medicines are available at Primary Health Care-Health and Wellness Centres (HWCs) under the expanded services of AB-HWCs programme?a. 171
b. 105
c. 63
d. 14
