A primary health center is established for an average population of how many people?

Raj. CHO -2020

Community Health Nursing

Easy

Appeared in: Raj. CHO -2020

Explanation

A Primary Health Centre (PHC) is a cornerstone of the rural healthcare system in India, established to serve a specific population size.
According to the Indian Public Health Standards (IPHS), a PHC in plain areas is designed to cover a population of 30,000.
To ensure better healthcare access in geographically challenging regions, the norm is adjusted to 20,000 people per PHC in hilly, tribal, or difficult areas.
Since the question is general and does not specify the geographical area, the standard norm for plain areas (30,000) is considered the correct answer.

Option A: A population of 5,000 is the norm for establishing a Sub-Centre in plain areas, which is the level of care below a PHC.
Option B: A population of 10,000 is not a standard norm for any specific facility (Sub-Centre, PHC, or CHC) within India's three-tier rural healthcare system.
Option D: A population of 50,000 is the designated norm for an Urban Primary Health Centre (UPHC), not a rural PHC.

Visual 1: Infographic: A diagram illustrating the three-tier rural healthcare system in India (Sub-Centre → PHC → CHC), showing the population norms for each level in both plain and hilly/tribal areas.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Population norms for the establishment of Primary Health Centers (PHCs) in India as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Understanding population norms is fundamental for community health nurses and public health administrators for effective planning and resource allocation, including staffing, medicine supplies, and outreach services.
These norms directly influence the workload and reach of crucial public health programs, such as the Universal Immunization Programme (UIP), maternal and child health (MCH) services, and national disease control programs.
What if? If the question had specified a PHC in a designated tribal area, the correct answer would have been 20,000, as the norms are relaxed to improve accessibility in difficult terrains.

How to Approach the Question

This is a factual recall question common in community health nursing.
First, identify the key term in the question: 'Primary Health Center' (PHC).
Second, access your knowledge of the established population norms for the different levels of the Indian healthcare system.
Third, differentiate the norm for a PHC from those of a Sub-Centre (which serves a smaller population) and a Community Health Centre or Urban PHC (which serve larger populations).
Select the option that matches the standard norm for a PHC in plain areas, as this is the default reference unless specified otherwise.

Concept Tested & Keywords

Concept Tested: Population norms for the establishment of Primary Health Centers (PHCs) in India.
Stem keywords: primary health center, average population
Lead-in keywords: how many

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