The multipurpose health worker concept is given by

RUHS, Jaipur, M.Sc Nursing Entrance Exam-2024

Community Health Nursing

Easy

Appeared in: RUHS, Jaipur, M.Sc Nursing Entrance Exam-2024

Explanation

The Kartar Singh Committee, appointed in 1972 and reporting in 1973, was specifically tasked with studying the feasibility of multipurpose workers in the health and family planning sectors.
Its main recommendation was to create the cadre of Multipurpose Health Workers (MPHWs) by integrating existing single-purpose health workers.
This involved redesignating Auxiliary Nurse Midwives (ANMs) as Female Health Workers and Basic Health Workers/Malaria Surveillance Workers as Male Health Workers.
The goal was to deliver a unified package of preventive, promotive, and basic curative services at the sub-centre level, making healthcare more efficient and accessible.

Option A: The Bhore Committee (1946) was foundational for India's health system, but it focused on the broader concept of integrating curative and preventive medicine and establishing a 3-tier health system, not specifically on the MPHW cadre.
Option B: The Srivastava Committee (1975) was formed after the Kartar Singh Committee. Its focus was on reforming medical education and creating a new level of support manpower called 'Health Assistants' to bridge the gap between MPHWs and doctors.
Option D: The Mudaliar Committee (1962) was a review committee. It assessed the progress since the Bhore Committee's report and recommended consolidating existing services and strengthening district hospitals, rather than creating a new cadre of workers.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Knowledge of major health committees in India and their key recommendations as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Understanding the evolution of India's public health structure through these committees is crucial for community health nurses to appreciate the context of their roles and responsibilities.
The MPHW concept, born from the Kartar Singh Committee, is the operational foundation of rural and semi-urban primary healthcare, directly impacting the daily work of ANMs and other community health staff.
A nurse's ability to function effectively within the primary healthcare system depends on understanding this integrated, multipurpose approach to patient care, which covers everything from immunizations and maternal health to disease surveillance.

How to Approach the Question

This is a factual recall question from Community Health Nursing, focusing on health planning in India.
First, identify the key phrase in the question: 'multipurpose health worker concept'.
Next, systematically review the options, recalling the primary contribution of each committee.
Associate 'Bhore Committee' with the foundation of the PHC system and integrated care (preventive + curative).
Associate 'Mudaliar Committee' with reviewing progress and strengthening district hospitals.
Associate 'Kartar Singh Committee' directly with the term 'Multipurpose Worker'. This is the strongest link.

Concept Tested & Keywords

Concept Tested: Knowledge of major health committees in India and their key recommendations.
Stem keywords: multipurpose health worker, concept, committee
Lead-in keywords: given by
Negative lead-in flag: false

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E6 Comprehensive Textbook of Community Health NursingShyamala D part 1 (pp 26-389 of 389) pp. 71-73, 70-72, 69-71