The Alma Ata Declaration (1978) defined Primary Health Care (PHC). Which of the following was NOT listed as one of the 8 essential elements of PHC in the Alma Ata Declaration?

• A Maternal and child health care, including family planning
• B Provision of essential drugs
• C Prevention and control of locally endemic diseases
• D Provision of specialist hospital care for referred patients ✓

Explanation

The 8 essential elements of PHC per the Alma Ata Declaration are: (1) Health education; (2) Food supply and proper nutrition; (3) Safe water supply and basic sanitation; (4) Maternal and child health care including family planning; (5) Immunisation against major infectious diseases; (6) Prevention and control of locally endemic diseases; (7) Appropriate treatment of common diseases and injuries; (8) Provision of essential drugs. Specialist hospital care was explicitly excluded as PHC was designed as community-level first contact care.

Reference: Park's Textbook of Preventive and Social Medicine, 27th ed.

High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP

Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.