Health Policy and Management — MCQs

Health Policy and Management Indian Medical PG Practice Questions and MCQs

Question 41: Which of the following committees is known as the Health Survey and Development Committee?

A. Srivastava committee
B. Bhore committee
C. Kaar Singh committee
D. Mudaliar committee (Correct Answer)

Explanation: The correct answer is **B. Bhore Committee**. *(Note: There appears to be a discrepancy in the provided key. The Health Survey and Development Committee is the Bhore Committee, while the Mudaliar Committee is the Health Survey and Planning Committee.)* ### **Explanation** 1. **Bhore Committee (1943):** Known as the **Health Survey and Development Committee**. It is the foundation of modern public health in India. It proposed the "Primary Health Centre" (PHC) concept and recommended the integration of preventive and curative services at all levels. 2. **Mudaliar Committee (1962):** Known as the **Health Survey and Planning Committee**. It was appointed to assess the progress made since the Bhore Committee report. It recommended strengthening district hospitals and improving the quality of care rather than just expanding the number of centers. ### **Analysis of Incorrect Options** * **A. Srivastava Committee (1975):** Known as the "Group on Medical Education and Support Manpower." It led to the creation of the **Reorientation of Medical Education (ROME)** scheme and the launch of the Community Health Volunteer scheme (Village Health Guides). * **C. Kartar Singh Committee (1973):** Known as the "Committee on Multipurpose Workers under Health and Family Planning." It introduced the concept of **Multipurpose Workers (MPW)** and converted ANMs into Female Health Workers. ### **High-Yield Clinical Pearls for NEET-PG** * **Bhore Committee:** Recommended 1 PHC per 40,000 population and "3-month social physicians" (internship). * **Chadah Committee (1963):** Famous for recommending the **Vigilance Operations** for Malaria and linking them to family planning. * **Mukherjee Committee (1965/66):** Dealt with separate staff for family planning and delinking it from the malaria activities. * **Jungalwalla Committee (1967):** Known as the "Committee on Integration of Health Services" (Equal pay for equal work).

Question 42: The National Population Policy 2000 set a goal for 100% registration of which of the following by 2010, except:

A. Births and Deaths
B. Marriages
C. Pregnancies
D. Divorces (Correct Answer)

Explanation: The **National Population Policy (NPP) 2000** was formulated with the long-term objective of achieving a stable population by 2045. To monitor demographic trends and improve health service delivery, the policy set specific socio-demographic goals to be achieved by 2010. ### **Explanation of the Correct Answer** **D. Divorces:** While the NPP 2000 emphasized the legal documentation of vital events to track population dynamics, **divorces were not included** in the target for 100% registration. The policy focused on events directly linked to maternal and child health, fertility tracking, and mortality statistics. ### **Analysis of Incorrect Options** The NPP 2000 specifically mandated **100% registration** of the following by 2010: * **A. Births and Deaths:** Essential for calculating the Crude Birth Rate (CBR) and Crude Death Rate (CDR), which are primary indicators of population growth. * **B. Marriages:** Registration of marriage is a strategy to discourage child marriage and ensure the legal age of marriage (18 for girls, 21 for boys) is maintained, which indirectly impacts the Total Fertility Rate (TFR). * **C. Pregnancies:** Tracking pregnancies is vital for ensuring universal antenatal care (ANC), identifying high-risk cases, and reducing Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR). ### **High-Yield Facts for NEET-PG** * **NPP 2000 Targets:** * **Immediate Objective:** Address unmet needs for contraception and health infrastructure. * **Medium-term Objective:** Bring the **Total Fertility Rate (TFR) to replacement level (2.1)** by 2010. * **Long-term Objective:** Achieve a stable population by **2045** (recently revised by some sources to 2070, but 2045 remains the standard NPP 2000 text). * **Other 2010 Goals:** Reduce IMR to <30/1000 live births, reduce MMR to <100/100,000 live births, and achieve 80% institutional deliveries.

Question 43: The PNDT Act was introduced in which year?

A. 1990
B. 1994 (Correct Answer)
C. 2000
D. 2002

Explanation: **Explanation:** The **Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (Regulation and Prevention of Misuse) Act** was enacted by the Parliament of India in **1994** (Option B). The primary objective of this legislation is to prohibit the use of prenatal diagnostic techniques for sex determination, thereby preventing female feticide and addressing the declining child sex ratio in India. It regulates the use of technologies like ultrasound and amniocentesis, ensuring they are used only for detecting genetic abnormalities or metabolic disorders. **Analysis of Options:** * **A. 1990:** No major national health legislation regarding prenatal diagnostics was passed this year. * **C. 2000:** While not the year of inception, this period saw significant judicial pressure leading to the subsequent amendment of the act. * **D. 2002:** This is the year the act was **amended** to include "Pre-conception" techniques, officially becoming the **PCPNDT Act** (Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques Act), which came into effect in 2003. **High-Yield Clinical Pearls for NEET-PG:** * **Implementation:** Though enacted in 1994, it came into force on **January 1, 1996**. * **The 2002 Amendment:** Expanded the scope to regulate technologies used *before* conception (like IVF/PGD) to prevent sex selection at the zygote stage. * **Mandatory Registration:** Every genetic counseling center, laboratory, or clinic (including mobile clinics) must be registered under this act. * **Record Keeping:** Maintenance of **Form F** is a mandatory requirement for every pregnant woman undergoing an ultrasound; failure to do so is a punishable offense. * **Punishment:** First conviction may lead to imprisonment up to 3 years and a fine up to ₹10,000. The medical professional's name may be removed from the State Medical Council register.

Question 44: Predominantly, for the management of which one of the following resources is the critical path method (CPM) used as a health administration technique?

A. Money
B. Manpower
C. Time (Correct Answer)
D. Material

Explanation: **Explanation:** The **Critical Path Method (CPM)** is a project management technique used in health administration to plan and control the schedule of a project. Its primary objective is to identify the **longest sequence of dependent activities** (the "critical path") required to complete a project from start to finish. **1. Why Time is the Correct Answer:** CPM focuses on determining the shortest possible time needed to complete a project. By identifying the critical path, administrators can pinpoint which activities are "time-critical." Any delay in these specific tasks will directly result in a delay of the entire project. Therefore, CPM is predominantly a tool for **Time Management**. **2. Why Other Options are Incorrect:** * **Money (A):** While CPM helps in cost-control indirectly by preventing delays, it is not primarily a financial auditing tool. * **Manpower (B) & Material (D):** These are resources required to complete tasks. While "Resource Leveling" is a part of project management, CPM specifically maps the **temporal flow** of events rather than the inventory of staff or supplies. **High-Yield Clinical Pearls for NEET-PG:** * **CPM vs. PERT:** * **CPM** is **Activity-oriented** and used for repetitive, predictable projects (e.g., building a hospital wing). * **PERT** (Program Evaluation and Review Technique) is **Event-oriented** and used for research or new projects where time estimates are uncertain. * **Critical Path:** It is the path with **zero slack time** (no room for delay). * **Other Management Techniques:** * **Gantt Chart:** A visual bar chart showing the start and finish dates of project elements. * **ABC Analysis:** Used for **Material/Inventory** management (based on cost). * **VED Analysis:** Used for **Material/Drug** management (based on criticality: Vital, Essential, Desirable).

Question 45: Who is responsible for the home delivery of contraception?

A. Anganwadi worker
B. Male health worker
C. ASHA worker (Correct Answer)
D. Female health worker

Explanation: ### Explanation **Correct Answer: C. ASHA (Accredited Social Health Activist)** The **Home Delivery of Contraceptives (HDC)** scheme was launched by the Government of India to improve access to family planning services at the doorstep. Under this scheme, the **ASHA worker** is the designated community-level functionary responsible for delivering contraceptives (Condoms, Oral Contraceptive Pills, and Emergency Contraceptive Pills) directly to beneficiaries. **Why ASHA is the correct choice:** ASHA acts as a bridge between the community and the health system. She is incentivized for this service (charging a nominal fee of ₹1 for a pack of 3 condoms, ₹1 for an OCP cycle, and ₹2 for an ECP) to ensure sustainability and motivation. This task aligns with her role in counseling couples on birth spacing and limiting family size. **Why other options are incorrect:** * **Anganwadi Worker (AWW):** Primarily focuses on nutrition, pre-school education, and immunization under the ICDS scheme. While she supports family planning counseling, she is not the primary agent for home delivery of contraceptives. * **Male Health Worker (MPW-M):** Operates at the Sub-center level focusing on environmental sanitation, malaria control, and vital statistics. He does not typically perform door-to-door delivery of family planning commodities. * **Female Health Worker (ANM):** Based at the Sub-center, her role is clinical and supervisory. She provides injectable contraceptives (Antara) and inserts IUCDs, but the routine "doorstep delivery" of oral pills and condoms is delegated to the ASHA. **High-Yield Facts for NEET-PG:** * **ASHA Population Norms:** 1 per 1000 population (Plain areas); 1 per habitation (Tribal/Hilly areas). * **Contraceptives under HDC:** Condoms (Nirodh), OCPs (Mala-N), and ECPs (Chhaya/E-pill). * **ESB Scheme:** ASHA also receives incentives for **Ensuring Spacing at Birth** (₹500 for a 2-year gap after marriage and ₹500 for a 3-year gap between children). * **Mission Parivar Vikas:** Focuses on 145 high-fertility districts across 7 states to accelerate family planning efforts.

Question 46: Which of the following is NOT a goal of the National Population Policy?

A. Decrease Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) to below 30 per 1000 live births.
B. Reduce Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR) to below 100 per 100,000 live births.
C. Achieve 100 per cent registration of births, deaths, marriages, and pregnancies.
D. Bring down Total Fertility Rate (TFR) to replacement level by 2015. (Correct Answer)

Explanation: ### Explanation The **National Population Policy (NPP) 2000** was formulated with the long-term objective of achieving a stable population by 2045, consistent with the requirements of sustainable economic growth and social development. **Why Option D is the Correct Answer:** The NPP 2000 set the target to achieve a **Total Fertility Rate (TFR) of 2.1 (replacement level)** by the year **2010**, not 2015. While India eventually achieved a TFR of 2.0 (as per NFHS-5), the specific policy goal mentioned in the option contains the incorrect target year, making it the "NOT" statement. **Analysis of Incorrect Options:** * **Option A:** Reducing **IMR to below 30 per 1000 live births** is a specific socio-demographic goal of NPP 2000. * **Option B:** Reducing **MMR to below 100 per 100,000 live births** is another core objective aimed at improving maternal health. * **Option C:** The policy explicitly aims for **100% registration** of births, deaths, marriages, and pregnancies to ensure better demographic tracking and service delivery. **High-Yield Clinical Pearls for NEET-PG:** * **NPP 2000 Objectives:** * **Immediate:** Address unmet needs for contraception and health infrastructure. * **Medium-term:** Bring TFR to replacement level (2.1) by 2010. * **Long-term:** Achieve a stable population by 2045. * **Other Key Goals:** 80% institutional deliveries; 100% deliveries by trained persons; universal immunization of children against all vaccine-preventable diseases; and promoting the small family norm. * **Current Status:** As per NFHS-5 (2019-21), India’s TFR has reached **2.0**, which is below the replacement level.

Question 47: The National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA) was passed in which year?

A. 1947
B. 1991
C. 2005 (Correct Answer)
D. 2008

Explanation: **Explanation:** The **National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA)**, later renamed the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), was enacted by the Parliament of India in **September 2005**. **Why 2005 is Correct:** NREGA is a landmark social security measure that guarantees the "right to work." It mandates at least **100 days of guaranteed wage employment** in a financial year to every rural household whose adult members volunteer to do unskilled manual work. From a Community Medicine perspective, it is a critical **Social Determinant of Health (SDH)**. By providing economic security, it improves nutritional status, reduces distress migration, and empowers women (who make up a large portion of the workforce), all of which directly correlate with improved public health outcomes in rural India. **Analysis of Incorrect Options:** * **1947 (A):** The year of Indian Independence; no such employment act existed then. * **1991 (B):** Marked the beginning of Economic Liberalization (LPG reforms) in India, but NREGA was not part of this era. * **2008 (D):** While the act was expanded to cover all districts of India in April 2008, the legislation itself was passed in 2005. **High-Yield Facts for NEET-PG:** * **Renaming:** It was renamed MGNREGA on **October 2, 2009**. * **Legal Entitlement:** If work is not provided within **15 days** of applying, the applicant is entitled to an unemployment allowance. * **Health Linkage:** MGNREGA works often involve water conservation and sanitation, which help in controlling vector-borne and water-borne diseases. * **Wage-Material Ratio:** The prescribed ratio is **60:40**.

Question 48: PERT is a type of:

A. Input output analysis
B. System analysis (Correct Answer)
C. Network analysis
D. Work sampling

Explanation: **Explanation:** **PERT (Program Evaluation and Review Technique)** is a management tool used to schedule, organize, and coordinate tasks within a project. In the context of health management, it is classified under **System Analysis**. **Why System Analysis is Correct:** System analysis involves studying a complex process (like a mass immunization campaign or hospital construction) to identify the most efficient way to achieve an objective. PERT is a systematic method used to analyze the time required to complete each task and identify the minimum time needed to finish the entire project. It focuses on the logical sequence of events and the interdependencies of various subsystems, making it a core component of the systems approach in health management. **Analysis of Incorrect Options:** * **Input-Output Analysis:** This focuses on the relationship between the resources put into a program (money, manpower) and the resulting products or services. It does not map the timeline or sequence of events like PERT. * **Network Analysis:** While PERT is technically a *technique* of network analysis (along with CPM), in the hierarchy of management definitions used in standard textbooks (like Park’s PSM), it is categorized under the broader umbrella of **System Analysis**. If "System Analysis" is an option, it is the preferred "parent" category. * **Work Sampling:** This is a method of "Work Study" used to find the proportion of time spent by workers on various activities through random observations. **High-Yield Pearls for NEET-PG:** * **PERT vs. CPM:** PERT is **event-oriented** (focuses on milestones) and used for new/unpredictable projects. **CPM (Critical Path Method)** is **activity-oriented** and used for repetitive, predictable projects. * **Critical Path:** The longest path through the network diagram; it determines the shortest possible time to complete the project. * **Decision Making:** Other system analysis tools include **Cost-Benefit Analysis** (outcomes in monetary terms) and **Cost-Effective Analysis** (outcomes in biological units, e.g., lives saved).

Question 49: A specific pre-planned activity in a Health Program is known as:

A. Objective (Correct Answer)
B. Target
C. Goal
D. Impact

Explanation: ### Explanation In Health Planning and Management, there is a hierarchical structure to defining what a program intends to achieve. **Why "Objective" is correct:** An **Objective** is defined as a specific, pre-planned activity or a planned end-point of a program. It is the "operational" level of a goal. Objectives are designed to be **SMART**: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound. For example, "To immunize 95% of children in District X with the Measles vaccine by December 2024" is a specific pre-planned activity/objective. **Analysis of Incorrect Options:** * **Goal (Option C):** This is the ultimate desired state or a broad statement of intent (e.g., "Health for All"). Goals are often non-measurable and lack a specific timeframe. * **Target (Option B):** A target is a discrete step toward achieving an objective. It is a specific degree of estimate that is to be achieved within a specified time frame (e.g., "Reducing the Infant Mortality Rate to 25 per 1000 live births"). While similar to objectives, the "pre-planned activity" definition specifically points to the objective. * **Impact (Option D):** This refers to the long-term effects or end-results of a program on the health status of the population (e.g., reduction in disease prevalence or mortality). **High-Yield Clinical Pearls for NEET-PG:** * **Hierarchy of Planning:** Goal → Objective → Target → Activity. * **Input:** Resources put into a program (Manpower, Money, Material). * **Output:** The immediate result of activities (e.g., number of people vaccinated). * **Outcome:** The change in health behavior or status (e.g., increased immunity levels). * **Efficiency vs. Effectiveness:** Efficiency is "doing things right" (output per unit input), while Effectiveness is "doing the right things" (achieving the objective).

Question 50: Which of the following is an example of a monarchy?

A. United Kingdom (Correct Answer)
B. India
C. Thailand
D. Poland

Explanation: **Explanation:** In the context of Health Policy and Management, understanding different **Political Systems** is crucial as they directly influence health legislation, resource allocation, and the structure of national health services (e.g., the NHS in the UK). **Why the United Kingdom is the Correct Answer:** A **Monarchy** is a form of government where supreme power is held by an individual (the monarch) for life or until abdication. The **United Kingdom** is a classic example of a **Constitutional Monarchy**, where the monarch acts as the Head of State within the parameters of a constitution, while the government is led by a Prime Minister. This political stability has historically shaped their centralized healthcare model. **Analysis of Incorrect Options:** * **India:** India is a **Sovereign Socialist Secular Democratic Republic**. It has a parliamentary system, but the Head of State (President) is elected, not hereditary. * **Thailand:** While Thailand is also a Constitutional Monarchy, in the context of standard international political classifications often used in public health textbooks (like Park’s PSM), the **United Kingdom** is the primary reference model for this category. *(Note: If this were a multiple-select, Thailand would technically qualify, but UK is the "best" textbook answer).* * **Poland:** Poland is a **Democratic Republic** with a semi-presidential system. **NEET-PG High-Yield Pearls:** * **Democracy:** Power is vested in the people (e.g., India, USA). * **Totalitarianism/Dictatorship:** Single-party or individual control (e.g., North Korea). * **Impact on Health:** Political systems determine the **Health Care Delivery Model**. For example, the UK’s monarchy-based parliamentary system led to the **Beveridge Model** (government-funded healthcare), whereas India’s federal republic uses a mix of public and private sectors.

Practice by Chapter

Health Systems and Models

Practice Questions

Health Planning Process

Practice Questions

Health Program Implementation

Practice Questions

Health Economics

Practice Questions

Health Financing Methods

Practice Questions

Healthcare Resource Allocation

Practice Questions

Quality Assessment in Healthcare

Practice Questions

Health Insurance Models

Practice Questions

Public-Private Partnerships

Practice Questions

Universal Health Coverage

Practice Questions

Healthcare Leadership

Practice Questions

Health Policy Evaluation

Practice Questions

Want unlimited practice?

Get full access to all questions, explanations, and performance tracking.

Start For Free