Health Policy and Management Practice Questions

Q: Which committee primarily introduced the rural health scheme in India?

Bhore Committee. ***Bhore Committee (1946)*** - This committee **primarily introduced the rural health scheme in India** by recommending a comprehensive three-tier health service structure. - Proposed the establishment of **Primary Health Centers (PHCs)** as the foundation of rural health services, with one PHC for every 40,000 population (later revised to 20,000-30,000). - Laid the groundwork for organized rural healthcare delivery, making it the most significant contributor to rural health infrastructure in India. - The committee's recommendations led to the launch of the first PHC in 1952. *Mudaliar Committee (1962)* - This was a **review committee** that assessed progress made since the Bhore Committee. - Focused on strengthening existing health infrastructure, particularly district hospitals and PHCs. - Did not introduce new rural health schemes but recommended improvements to existing systems. *Mukherjee Committee (1965)* - Recommended **integration of basic health services** and rationalization of health staff deployment. - Primary focus was on **family planning programs** and cost-effectiveness. - Emphasized coordination rather than introducing new rural health schemes. *Shrivastava Committee (1974)* - Established to examine **medical and health education** and its integration with healthcare delivery. - Focused on linking health professionals' training to community health needs. - Emphasized medical education reform rather than introducing rural health infrastructure schemes.

Q: What is the aim of the Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana?

To promote the use of generic medicines. ***To promote the use of generic medicines*** - The primary aim of the **Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP)** is to ensure access to affordable and high-quality medicines for all, especially the poor and underprivileged, by promoting **generic medicines**. - Generic medicines are significantly cheaper than their branded counterparts while having the same **therapeutic efficacy** and quality. *To reduce the cost of branded medicines* - While PMBJP indirectly influences market prices by providing cheaper alternatives, its direct aim is not to reduce the cost of **branded medicines**. - The focus is on increasing the availability and affordability of **generic versions**, not regulating branded drug prices. *To increase the export of Indian medicines* - The PMBJP is a domestic initiative focused on the Indian population's access to affordable medicine and does not have increasing **medicine exports** as its core objective. - Export promotion is handled by other government policies and bodies. *To provide free surgical instruments* - The PMBJP is specifically designed to provide **affordable medicines** through Janaushadhi Kendras. - It does not involve the provision of **surgical instruments**, which are separate medical supplies.

Q: Which initiative under the National Health Mission aims to provide continuous and comprehensive primary care?

Ayushman Bharat - Health and Wellness Centres. ***Ayushman Bharat - Health and Wellness Centres*** - This initiative transforms existing **Sub Centres** and **Primary Health Centres** into Health and Wellness Centres (HWCs) to provide **comprehensive primary healthcare**, including preventive, promotive, curative, palliative, and rehabilitative services. - The focus is on expanding the range of services beyond reproductive and child health to include care for **non-communicable diseases**, mental health, and geriatric care, emphasizing continuity of care. *Janani Suraksha Yojana* - This is a **cash incentive scheme** aiming to reduce maternal and infant mortality by promoting institutional deliveries among pregnant women, especially in poor performing states. - While it contributes to maternal health, its primary focus is not **comprehensive primary care** but rather safe childbirth. *Indradhanush Mission* - This mission focuses specifically on **immunization**, aiming to cover all unvaccinated and partially vaccinated children and pregnant women under the Universal Immunization Programme. - It targets specific vaccine-preventable diseases rather than providing a broad spectrum of continuous and **comprehensive primary care services**. *National Urban Health Mission* - While this mission addresses the health needs of the **urban poor**, it is a component of a broader health strategy rather than the specific initiative dedicated to establishing and operating Health and Wellness Centres for comprehensive primary care across rural and urban areas. - It focuses on improving healthcare access and quality within urban specific contexts, but HWCs are the designated structure for **comprehensive primary care delivery** within Ayushman Bharat.

Q: Which policy ensures that free drugs are provided to all patients in government healthcare institutions in India?

National Health Mission. ***National Health Mission*** - The National Health Mission includes the **Free Drugs Service Initiative** which ensures provision of **free essential drugs** to all patients in government healthcare institutions across India. - Under this initiative, states provide **free medicines from the Essential Drugs List** at primary, secondary, and tertiary care government facilities. - This is a **comprehensive policy** that mandates free drug availability at the point of care in public health facilities. *Essential Drugs List (EDL)* - The EDL is a **list of essential medicines** that guides procurement and availability, but it is not itself a policy that ensures free drug provision. - It serves as a **reference document** for which medicines should be available in the healthcare system. *Ayushman Bharat Scheme* - This scheme primarily provides **health insurance coverage up to ₹5 lakh per family per year** for secondary and tertiary care hospitalization. - It focuses on **inpatient care expenses** and does not specifically mandate free outpatient drugs for all patients in government institutions. *Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana* - This scheme provides **quality generic medicines at affordable prices** (not free) through Jan Aushadhi Kendras. - Medicines are sold at **20-80% lower prices** compared to market rates, but patients still need to pay for them. - It operates through **dedicated Jan Aushadhi stores**, not through regular government healthcare institutions.

Q: The Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana primarily aims to:

Provide health insurance coverage to low-income families. ***Provide health insurance coverage to low-income families*** - The **Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana (RSBY)** was a government-funded health insurance scheme primarily designed to provide financial protection against catastrophic health expenditures for **below poverty line (BPL)** families. - It aimed to improve access to healthcare services for the **unorganized sector workers** and their families by offering a defined health cover. *Subsidize healthcare services* - While RSBY does lead to some subsidization of healthcare, its core mechanism is **insurance coverage**, not direct subsidization of specific services for all. - Subsidy often implies direct government payment for services, whereas insurance involves a third-party payer (insurer) covering treatment costs. *Provide free medical treatments* - RSBY did not provide "free" medical treatments; it provided **insurance coverage** up to a certain limit, meaning the costs were covered by the insurance scheme, not necessarily free at the point of care for all services. - Patients still navigated an insurance system, unlike truly free care where no financial transaction occurs. *Encourage private healthcare investment* - Although RSBY did involve **private health insurance companies** and allowed beneficiaries to access private hospitals, its primary goal was not to stimulate private investment but to expand healthcare access for the poor. - Any encouragement of private investment was a secondary effect of bringing more patients into the formal healthcare system.

Q: Which committee's recommendations were instrumental in developing the primary health care infrastructure with community health workers in India?

Shrivastava committee. ***Shrivastava committee*** - The **Shrivastava Committee** (1975) made significant recommendations regarding **health manpower planning** and the creation of a **cadre of paramedical workers**. - Its recommendations contributed to the development of **primary healthcare infrastructure** with emphasis on community-level health workers. *Mukherjee committee* - The **Mukherjee Committee** (1965) focused on the **multi-purpose worker scheme** and the integration of health services, particularly for family planning. - It addressed the implementation of basic health services at the grassroots level. *Mudaliar committee* - The **Mudaliar Committee** (1962), also known as the Health Survey and Planning Committee, reviewed the progress made since the Bhore Committee. - It recommended strengthening district hospitals and improving referral services. *Bhore committee* - The **Bhore Committee** (1946), also known as the Health Survey and Development Committee, recommended a comprehensive health service for India with focus on curative and preventive care. - It laid the foundation for India's health policy framework with emphasis on integrated health services.

Q: The focus of the National Programme for Control of Blindness is to:

Eliminate avoidable blindness. ***Eliminate avoidable blindness*** - The National Programme for Control of Blindness (NPCB) was launched with the primary goal of **reducing the prevalence of blindness** by addressing its preventable causes. - This objective is achieved through various interventions aimed at **prevention, early detection, and treatment** of common eye diseases. *Promote the use of corrective eyewear* - While promoting corrective eyewear is a component of eye health, it is a **specific intervention** and not the overarching focus of a national program aimed at controlling blindness. - The program's scope extends beyond refractive errors to tackle more severe and blinding conditions like **cataracts and glaucoma**. *Increase the number of ophthalmologists* - Increasing the number of ophthalmologists is a **strategy to achieve** the broader goal of controlling blindness, as it improves access to care. - However, it is an **enabling factor** rather than the ultimate objective of the program itself. *Provide free eye surgeries internationally* - The NPCB is a **national program** focused on addressing blindness within the country. - Its mandate does not extend to providing services **internationally**, and its resources are allocated for domestic needs.

Q: What specific issues does the Ayushman Bharat Yojana aim to address?

Comprehensive primary health care and health insurance. ***Comprehensive primary health care and health insurance*** - The Ayushman Bharat Yojana, launched in 2018, is a government scheme to provide **affordable healthcare to the vulnerable sections** of society. - It focuses on two interconnected components: **Health and Wellness Centers (HWCs)** for primary healthcare, and the **Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PMJAY)** for health insurance. *Child nutrition and education programs* - While important, these issues are primarily addressed by schemes like the **Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS)** and the **Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan**, not the Ayushman Bharat Yojana. - Ayushman Bharat's scope is specifically on **health services and financial protection** against catastrophic health expenditures. *Urban sanitation initiatives* - These are typically covered by programs such as the **Swachh Bharat Abhiyan (Urban)**, which focuses on improving cleanliness and sanitation in urban areas. - The Ayushman Bharat Yojana's mandate is centered on **medical care and health infrastructure**, not civic sanitation. *Employment opportunities for the elderly* - This falls under the purview of **social welfare ministries** and specific government programs aimed at senior citizens' livelihoods and welfare. - Ayushman Bharat is designed to reduce the financial burden of disease, primarily for the **economically disadvantaged**, regardless of age, through healthcare access.

Q: Under the National AIDS Control Programme, which strategy is emphasized for reducing HIV transmission?

Promotion of safe sexual practices and regular testing. ***Promotion of safe sexual practices and regular testing*** - The **National AIDS Control Programme (NACP)** heavily emphasizes strategies like **condom promotion**, awareness about **safe injection practices**, and **regular HIV testing** to prevent new infections. - This approach focuses on **behavioral changes** and **early detection** as primary tools for reducing HIV transmission within the population. *Mass treatment with antiretrovirals irrespective of HIV status* - This approach is not feasible or recommended as antiretrovirals are potent drugs with **potential side effects** and are specifically indicated for individuals living with HIV to manage their infection and prevent transmission. - Such a strategy would also be **economically unsustainable** and medically unnecessary for the general population. *Isolation of HIV positive individuals* - **Isolation** of individuals with HIV is not an effective public health strategy for managing the epidemic and is also a severe violation of **human rights** and medical ethics. - HIV transmission requires specific conditions (e.g., exchange of body fluids) and does not spread through casual contact, making isolation unwarranted. *Compulsory HIV testing for all citizens* - While widespread testing is encouraged, **compulsory HIV testing** infringes upon an individual's **autonomy** and right to privacy. - Public health strategies focus on **voluntary testing**, coupled with counseling, to ensure ethical implementation and promote trust in healthcare systems.

Question 1

Which committee primarily introduced the rural health scheme in India?

Accepted Answer

Bhore Committee

Answer

Shrivastava Committee

Answer

Mukherjee Committee

Answer

Mudaliar Committee

Question 2

What is the aim of the Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana?

Accepted Answer

To promote the use of generic medicines

Answer

To reduce the cost of branded medicines

Answer

To increase the export of Indian medicines

Answer

To provide free surgical instruments

Question 3

Which initiative under the National Health Mission aims to provide continuous and comprehensive primary care?

Accepted Answer

Ayushman Bharat - Health and Wellness Centres

Answer

Janani Suraksha Yojana

Answer

Indradhanush Mission

Answer

National Urban Health Mission

Question 4

The National Health Mission (NHM) aims to achieve which of the following goals?

Accepted Answer

To decrease the infant mortality rate and maternal mortality ratio

Answer

To ensure health service delivery exclusively in urban areas

Answer

To promote private healthcare sectors

Answer

To focus on treatment of non-communicable diseases only

Question 5

Which policy ensures that free drugs are provided to all patients in government healthcare institutions in India?

Accepted Answer

National Health Mission

Answer

Essential Drugs List (EDL)

Answer

Ayushman Bharat Scheme

Answer

Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana

Question 6

The Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana primarily aims to:

Accepted Answer

Provide health insurance coverage to low-income families

Answer

Subsidize healthcare services

Answer

Provide free medical treatments

Answer

Encourage private healthcare investment

Question 7

Which committee's recommendations were instrumental in developing the primary health care infrastructure with community health workers in India?

Accepted Answer

Shrivastava committee

Answer

Mukherjee committee

Answer

Mudaliar committee

Answer

Bhore committee

Question 8

The focus of the National Programme for Control of Blindness is to:

Accepted Answer

Eliminate avoidable blindness

Answer

Promote the use of corrective eyewear

Answer

Increase the number of ophthalmologists

Answer

Provide free eye surgeries internationally

Question 9

What specific issues does the Ayushman Bharat Yojana aim to address?

Accepted Answer

Comprehensive primary health care and health insurance

Answer

Child nutrition and education programs

Answer

Urban sanitation initiatives

Answer

Employment opportunities for the elderly

Question 10

Under the National AIDS Control Programme, which strategy is emphasized for reducing HIV transmission?

Accepted Answer

Promotion of safe sexual practices and regular testing

Answer

Mass treatment with antiretrovirals irrespective of HIV status

Answer

Isolation of HIV positive individuals

Answer

Compulsory HIV testing for all citizens

Health Policy and Management — MCQs

Health Policy and Management — MCQs

On this page

Practice by Chapter

Want unlimited practice?