The term 'comprehensive health care' was first used in 1946 by which of the following committees?

Appeared in: DSSSB October 2024

Explanation

The Bhore Committee, officially the Health Survey and Development Committee, submitted its report in 1946.
It was the first to introduce and define the concept of 'comprehensive health care' in the Indian context.
The core recommendation was the integration of curative (treatment) and preventive (prevention) medicine at all levels of the health system.
This committee's report is considered the foundation for the structure of India's public health services.

Option B: The Srivastava Committee was formed much later, in 1974, and submitted its report in 1975.
Option C: The Kartar Singh Committee was formed in 1972 and submitted its report in 1973.
Option D: The Mudaliar Committee was formed in 1959 and submitted its report in 1962. Its purpose was to review the progress made since the Bhore Committee's recommendations.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: Knowing History of Public Health Committees in India helps nurses interpret findings accurately and avoid errors in routine assessment, medication administration, and patient teaching.
Understanding the Bhore Committee's recommendations is crucial for community health nurses as it established the three-tier rural health system (Sub-centre, PHC, CHC) where they primarily work.
The concept of integrated preventive, promotive, and curative care is the philosophical backbone of community health nursing practice in India.
What if the question asked about the origin of the Multipurpose Worker (MPW) concept? In that case, the answer would be the Kartar Singh Committee (1973), which is a direct evolution of the Bhore Committee's vision for integrated services at the grassroots level.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the key phrases in the question: 'comprehensive health care' and the year '1946'.
This is a factual recall question related to the history of public health in India.
Scan the options, which are all names of major health committees.
Recall or deduce which committee's work corresponds to the concept of integrated health services and the specified year.
The Bhore Committee is the earliest and most foundational committee, and its 1946 report is famous for introducing the concept of comprehensive care, making it the correct choice.

Concept Tested & Keywords

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

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