PHC Full Form

PHC is an essential component of the public health centre. PHC serves as the patient’s first point of contact to a qualified healthcare provider in rural areas to provide preventive, curative, and promotive treatment options. It can also be understood as the basic unit of the public health system to increase the accessibility and affordability of health services to people. Furthermore, a PHC operates for 24 hours and caters to the specific needs of a given community. These needs are not limited to medical supplies such as medications, needles, and medical apparel. PHC also deals with patient education, nutrition, sanitation, and other services.

Primary healthcare

The definition of primary healthcare has evolved severally since its conception in 1978. The development of modern technology and growing economies led to an imbalance in the quality of healthcare provided in the regions of countries. This inequality drove the revaluation of primary healthcare to respond to the healthcare needs of communities. 

WHO and UNICEF also came up with a straightforward definition that guides the implementation of primary healthcare at the global, national, and regional levels. Primary healthcare can be defined as a community approach to health that guarantees the highest possible level of health and wellbeing and equal distribution of services by addressing the community’s needs and providing care early along the continuum of health promotion and disease prevention, including treatment, rehabilitation, and palliative care, at centres located as close as possible to people’s everyday environments. 

The structure of primary health care comprises three related components. These include comprehensive health services focused on primary care and the provision of public health goods and functions, multi-sectoral directives and policies that tackle the indirect determinants of health, and programmes that engage and empower community members to enhance social participation, self-care, and self-reliance.

Furthermore, primary healthcare is grounded on equity, justice, unity, and participation. It recognises that the highest possible standard of health should be considered a basic human right. Primary healthcare forms a unique aspect of the public health sector as it seeks to resolve and maintain physical, mental, and social wellbeing. It also emphasises the vast determinants of health outside the physical realm. Current primary healthcare policies include universal healthcare (UHC) and sustainable development goals (SDGs).

Services provided at PHCs

• Primary care

PHCs provide general medical care services such as outpatient (OPD) and in-patient services. A PHC is expected to have at least six beds and six hours of outpatient services. A minimum of 40 patients are expected to require OPD services daily. The medical officer at the PHC should also allocate time for field duties. Additionally, PHCs offer 24-hour emergency services and referrals to other health institutions.

• Maternal and child healthcare

Pregnant women receive antenatal care in PHCs involving registration of pregnancies, check-ups, supplements, laboratory tests, and nutritional and health counselling. High-risk pregnancies are also noted for future referral to other institutions. Medical professionals at PHCs can identify pregnancy complications such as PPH, pre-eclampsia, and sepsis. The medical officer gives first-aid and signs an immediate referral to other institutions in these cases. Post-natal care and new born care are also provided. 

Childcare services such as full immunisation, anthropometric measurements, and prevention and control of common childhood diseases are also done here. The healthcare provider’s role is to educate and counsel families on the various contraceptives and infertility. Permanent contraceptive solutions such as vasectomies are referred. 

• Management of STIs

The healthcare provider should educate the community on preventing and treating STIs.

• Nutritional services

PHCs play a major role in the community’s nutrition. Healthcare professionals diagnose malnutrition and offer nutritional advice. Another service provided includes diagnosing and 

managing anaemia and vitamin A deficiency. 

• Promotion of sanitation and safe drinking water

Healthcare providers collaborate with the local water department to ensure a safe and clean drinking water supply. The community is counselled on various methods of improving sanitation, such as using toilets and appropriate garbage disposal.

Other services offered include: 

• School health provision through consistent screening, full immunisation, and deworming
• Medical termination of pregnancies
• Prevention of endemic diseases such as malaria
• Collecting of medical records and reporting
• Health education through Behaviour Change Communication (BCC)
• Referral services
• Basic laboratory and diagnostic services
• Specific surgical procedures

Difficulties facing PHC development

PHCs face certain issues that curb the appropriate provision of services. These include:

• Lack of qualified medical professionals to work at PHCs
• Some medical professionals opt not to stay at the PHC if posted
• Poor infrastructure and facilities
• Insufficient quantities of medications and drug administration equipment
• Lack of community participation in health promotion activities
• Lack of set criteria for assessing the quality of healthcare

Conclusion

The 1978 Alma-Ata declaration introduced the world to primary healthcare by adding equitable health services to the international political agenda. Numerous primary health centres serve the rural population, usually overlooked while drafting development plans. PHCs are the cornerstone of rural health services and have contributed to low mortality and improved health statuses. Furthermore, PHCs have become a major port of call within the public health sector. These centres facilitate comprehensive primary care, outpatient services, and maternal and child healthcare. They are a source of essential drugs, laboratory and diagnostic services, and referral services. PHC is characterised by community participation, equitable health, and inter-sectoral coordination.