Under Ayushman Bharat, Health and Wellness Centres (HWCs) aim to deliver which level of care?

GMCH Nursing Officer-2025

Community Health Nursing

Easy

Appeared in: GMCH Nursing Officer-2025

Explanation

Under the Ayushman Bharat scheme, Health and Wellness Centres (HWCs) are established by upgrading existing Sub-Health Centres and Primary Health Centres.
The primary mandate of these HWCs is to provide Comprehensive Primary Health Care (CPHC) to communities.
CPHC is a broad-based approach that includes preventive, promotive, curative, rehabilitative, and palliative services, ensuring care is holistic and accessible.
This model shifts the focus from selective care to a comprehensive range of services at the primary level, close to people's homes.

Option A: Specialized secondary care involves more complex health issues requiring specialized medical and surgical services, which are beyond the scope of a primary-level HWC.
Option B: This option is too narrow. While community-based rehabilitation is one of the twelve services provided by HWCs, it is not their sole or overarching aim.
Option D: HWCs are equipped to provide first aid and stabilize patients in emergencies before referral. However, definitive emergency trauma care requires the advanced infrastructure and specialists found at secondary and tertiary hospitals.

Visual 1: Flowchart - A diagram illustrating the three-tier structure of the Indian public health system (Primary, Secondary, Tertiary) and clearly placing Health and Wellness Centres (HWCs) at the base of the primary care level.
Visual 2: Infographic - An infographic listing the 12 key services provided under Comprehensive Primary Health Care at an HWC, highlighting the breadth of care from maternal health to non-communicable diseases.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: Knowing Role and scope of Health and Wellness Centres (HWCs) under the Ayushman Bharat scheme helps nurses interpret findings accurately and avoid errors in routine assessment, medication administration, and patient teaching.
Understanding the role of HWCs is crucial for nurses as they are key players in delivering CPHC, from health screening and patient education to managing common illnesses and making timely referrals.
The HWC model emphasizes preventive and promotive health, aiming to reduce the burden of disease and decrease out-of-pocket expenditure for families, thereby reducing the load on secondary and tertiary hospitals.
What if? - If the question asked for the first level of contact between the community and a qualified doctor, the answer would be the Primary Health Centre (PHC), which is also being upgraded to an HWC.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the core subject of the question: the function of 'Health and Wellness Centres (HWCs)' under 'Ayushman Bharat'.
Recall the structure of India's public health system, which is organized into primary, secondary, and tertiary levels.
Recognize that Ayushman Bharat is a major national initiative aimed at strengthening the grassroots healthcare infrastructure.
Evaluate each option against the known role of a primary care facility. 'Specialized secondary care' and 'emergency trauma care' are functions of higher-level hospitals.
'Community-based rehabilitation' is a single service, whereas HWCs are known for providing a wide range of services.
Conclude that 'Comprehensive primary health care' is the term that best encapsulates the broad, holistic mandate of HWCs.

Concept Tested & Keywords

Concept Tested: Role and scope of Health and Wellness Centres (HWCs) under the Ayushman Bharat scheme.
Stem keywords: Ayushman Bharat, Health and Wellness Centres, HWCs, level of care
Lead-in keywords: aim to deliver

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