Primary Health Care System in India

Despite significant health policies and programmes, which were implemented in the country time and again since independence, issues and challenges have continuously emerged in the health sector. Apart from communicable diseases, health challenges have emerged in the form non-communicable or lifestyle related diseases. Hence, revitalisation of primary health care approach for promoting health and making health care accessible to all has become a necessity. The book examines the functioning of Primary Health Centres (PHC) in two Blocks, namely Deoria Sadar and Bhagalpur, in Deoria District, Uttar Pradesh vis-à-vis service delivery on a comparative scale in order to lay down benchmarks for effective primary health care. Based on the primary and secondary research, the book suggests a model for effective primary health care. The Model addresses the two-way process of primary health care approach by inclusion of all levels of health care system, that is, from policy-making to community. Further, it envisages effectiveness and sustainability of health care reforms. Recognising people’s role, as the most important constituent of the health care system, will not only lead to a paradigm shift in the way the public health sector is governed in India but also increase people’s ownership in various activities of the primary health care sector.

Dr Neepa Saha Sharma (b.1975) is a  social development specialist with close to two decades of experience in strategic planning and implementation of CSR and social development programmes across  diverse social sectors and geographical  locations. Her interest lies in developing and supporting innovative social projects, which are impact driven and sustainable. She has been a Speaker on CSR and development issues in industry consortiums, CSR forums management associations, and academic institutions. She has been awarded ‘50 Most Talented CSR Leaders’ in 2015, ‘100
Most Impactful CSR Leaders’ in 2016 and ‘CSR Leadership Award’ in 2017. Dr Saha Sharma is a First Class First in BA History (Honours) from Presidency College, Kolkata, and a Gold Medalist in MA Archaeology and Heritage Management from GGS Indraprastha University, Delhi. She has obtained her PhD in Public Administration from
IGNOU, New Delhi.