Health Policy and Management Practice Questions

Q: Which of the following is an outcome indicator for ASHA (Accredited Social Health Activist)?

Percentage of institutional deliveries. **Explanation:** The core role of an **ASHA (Accredited Social Health Activist)** is to act as a bridge between the community and the public health system. In health management, indicators are classified as Input, Process, Output, and Outcome. **Why Option D is Correct:** The **Percentage of Institutional Deliveries** is a direct **outcome indicator** for ASHA because her primary responsibility is to mobilize pregnant women for antenatal care and facilitate institutional delivery (under schemes like Janani Suraksha Yojana). An outcome indicator measures the immediate result of a specific intervention. Since ASHA is incentivized specifically for accompanying women to hospitals for birth, the rise in institutional deliveries directly reflects her performance. **Analysis of Incorrect Options:** * **A & C (IMR and Child Malnutrition Rate):** These are **Impact Indicators**. They represent the long-term health status of a population. While ASHA’s work contributes to reducing IMR, these rates are influenced by multiple factors (sanitation, poverty, clinical care) beyond her individual control. * **B (Number of TB/leprosy cases detected):** This is generally considered an **Output/Process indicator**. While ASHA acts as a DOTS provider, the raw number of cases detected is more reflective of the surveillance system and disease prevalence rather than a final outcome of her health promotion activities. **High-Yield Facts for NEET-PG:** * **ASHA Norms:** 1 per 1000 population (Plain areas); 1 per habitation (Tribal/Hilly areas). * **Selection:** Must be a woman, resident of the village, literate (up to Class 10), and aged 25–45 years. * **Key Role:** "Community Health Volunteer" (not a government employee). * **Village Health Sanitation and Nutrition Committee (VHSNC):** ASHA serves as the Member Secretary.

Q: In which year was Ayushman Bharat launched?

2018. **Explanation:** The correct answer is **2018**. Ayushman Bharat, also known as the National Health Protection Mission, was launched by the Government of India in **September 2018**. It is a flagship scheme designed to achieve the vision of Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and is currently the world’s largest government-funded healthcare program. **Why 2018 is correct:** The program was officially launched on **September 23, 2018**, from Ranchi, Jharkhand. It consists of two inter-related components: 1. **Health and Wellness Centres (HWCs):** To provide Comprehensive Primary Health Care (CPHC). 2. **Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY):** To provide secondary and tertiary care hospitalization cover of up to **Rs. 5 lakh per family per year**. **Why other options are incorrect:** * **2015:** This year saw the launch of the *Digital India* campaign and the *Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan (PMSMA)*, but not Ayushman Bharat. * **2016:** The *Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana* was launched this year. * **2019:** While the program gained significant momentum in 2019, it was already operational since late 2018. **High-Yield Facts for NEET-PG:** * **Beneficiaries:** Identified based on **SECC 2011** (Socio-Economic Caste Census) data. * **Funding:** Shared between Central and State governments in a **60:40** ratio (90:10 for NE and Hilly states). * **Portability:** Benefits are portable across the country (a beneficiary can visit any empanelled public or private hospital in India). * **NHA:** The **National Health Authority** is the apex body responsible for implementing PM-JAY.

Q: Which of the following is not included under AYUSH?

Acupuncture. **Explanation:** The term **AYUSH** is an acronym representing the traditional and non-allopathic systems of medicine recognized and promoted by the Government of India. It was established as a separate department in 2003 and upgraded to a full-fledged Ministry in 2014. **Why Acupuncture is the correct answer:** Acupuncture is a traditional Chinese medical technique involving the insertion of needles into specific points on the body. While it is practiced in India, it is **not** officially included in the AYUSH acronym or the Ministry’s core mandate. It is often categorized under "Alternative Medicine" but does not hold the same statutory status as the other five systems. **Analysis of Incorrect Options:** * **A. Naturopathy:** Included under the letter **'Y'** (Yoga and Naturopathy). It focuses on the body's innate ability to heal itself using natural elements. * **C. Unani:** Represented by the letter **'U'**. It is a Perso-Arabic traditional medicine system based on the teachings of Hippocrates and Galen. * **D. Homeopathy:** Represented by the letter **'H'**. It is based on the principle of "Similia Similibus Curentur" (Like cures like). **High-Yield Facts for NEET-PG:** * **AYUSH Acronym:** **A**yurveda, **Y**oga & Naturopathy, **U**nani, **S**iddha, and **H**omeopathy. (Note: **Sowa-Rigpa** was added later as a recognized system under the Ministry). * **National AYUSH Mission (NAM):** Launched in 2014 to improve AYUSH health services and strengthen educational institutions. * **Mainstreaming of AYUSH:** Under the National Health Mission (NHM), AYUSH practitioners are co-located at PHCs and CHCs to provide a choice of treatment to patients and strengthen the public health workforce.

Q: Which of the following was NOT recommended by the Chadah committees?

Concept of a multipurpose health worker. **Explanation:** The **Chadah Committee (1963)** was primarily established to study the arrangements necessary for the maintenance phase of the National Malaria Eradication Programme (NMEP). **Why Option A is the Correct Answer:** The concept of the **Multipurpose Health Worker (MPHW)** was recommended by the **Kartar Singh Committee (1973)**, not the Chadah Committee. The Kartar Singh Committee suggested that instead of having separate workers for different programs (malaria, smallpox, family planning), a single worker should deliver a bundle of services. **Analysis of Incorrect Options:** * **Option B:** The committee recommended that the **Primary Health Centre (PHC)** at the block level should be the focal point for the maintenance phase of malaria eradication. * **Option C:** It proposed the appointment of **one Basic Health Worker (BHW) per 10,000 population**. These workers were tasked with house-to-house visits for malaria surveillance and data collection on vital statistics. * **Option D:** To ensure effective implementation, the committee recommended **Family Planning Health Assistants** to supervise 3 to 4 Basic Health Workers, integrating family planning duties with malaria surveillance. **High-Yield NEET-PG Pearls:** * **Chadah Committee (1963):** Key focus was Malaria Maintenance Phase and Basic Health Workers (BHW). * **Mukherjee Committee (1965):** Separated Family Planning from Health (due to BHWs being overburdened). * **Jungalwalla Committee (1967):** Focused on "Integration of Health Services." * **Kartar Singh Committee (1973):** Introduced the Multipurpose Worker (MPHW) and replaced "ANM" with "Female Health Worker." * **Srivastava Committee (1975):** Recommended the "Reorientation of Medical Education" (ROME) and the creation of Village Health Guides.

Q: Which of the following national health programs were initiated before 1960?

National Malaria Control Programme. ### Explanation The timeline of National Health Programs is a high-yield area for NEET-PG, as it reflects the evolution of India's public health priorities. **Why the Correct Answer is Right:** * **National Malaria Control Programme (NMCP):** Launched in **1953**, it was one of India's earliest organized health initiatives. Due to its initial success, it was upgraded to the **National Malaria Eradication Programme (NMEP)** in **1958**. Since it was initiated in 1953, it falls before the 1960 cutoff. **Analysis of Incorrect Options:** * **National Filaria Control Programme (NFCP):** Launched in **1955**. While this also falls before 1960, the question typically seeks the most prominent or "first" major vector control program. However, in many competitive exams, if multiple options are correct, the earliest or the one specified in standard textbooks (like Park’s PSM) as the primary answer is chosen. *Note: Technically, both A and B were pre-1960, but NMCP (1953) predates NFCP (1955).* * **National Leprosy Control Programme (NLCP):** Launched in **1955**. It was later renamed the National Leprosy Eradication Programme (NLEP) in 1983. * **National Tuberculosis Programme (NTP):** Launched in **1962**. It was later revamped into the Revised National TB Control Programme (RNTCP) in 1992, which adopted the DOTS strategy. **NEET-PG High-Yield Pearls:** * **Chronology Shortcut:** Remember the "Big Three" of the 1950s: Malaria (1953), Filaria (1955), and Leprosy (1955). * **Evolution of Malaria:** NMCP (1953) → NMEP (1958) → Modified Plan of Operation (1977) → NVBDCP (2003). * **Family Planning:** India was the first country in the world to launch a National Family Planning Programme in **1952**. * **Goitre:** The National Goitre Control Programme was launched in **1962**.

Q: PERT type of system is used for what purpose?

Network analysis. **Explanation:** **PERT (Program Evaluation and Review Technique)** is a statistical tool used in project management and health planning. It is a type of **Network Analysis** designed to analyze the tasks involved in completing a given project, especially the time needed to complete each task and identifying the minimum time needed to complete the total project. 1. **Why Network Analysis is Correct:** Network analysis (which includes PERT and CPM - Critical Path Method) involves a graphical representation of a project's timeline. PERT is specifically **event-oriented** and is used for large-scale, complex, and non-repetitive projects where time estimates are uncertain. It helps health administrators identify bottlenecks and ensure the efficient allocation of resources to meet deadlines. 2. **Why Other Options are Incorrect:** * **Cost-Effective Analysis (CEA):** Compares the relative costs and outcomes (effects) of different courses of action (e.g., cost per life year saved). It measures outcomes in natural units, not network flow. * **Cost-Benefit Analysis (CBA):** Compares the costs and benefits of a program where both are expressed in **monetary terms**. * **Input-Output Analysis:** An economic model that describes the flow of goods and services between different sectors of an economy (or departments within a hospital). **High-Yield Facts for NEET-PG:** * **PERT vs. CPM:** PERT is **event-oriented** (focuses on milestones) and uses three-time estimates (optimistic, pessimistic, and most likely). CPM is **activity-oriented** and used for repetitive projects with certain time frames. * **Critical Path:** The longest path through a network diagram which determines the shortest possible duration of the project. * **Application:** In Community Medicine, PERT is frequently used for planning national health programs (e.g., launching a new immunization drive).

Question 1

Which of the following is an outcome indicator for ASHA (Accredited Social Health Activist)?

Accepted Answer

Percentage of institutional deliveries

Answer

Infant Mortality Rate (IMR)

Answer

Number of TB/leprosy cases detected

Answer

Child malnutrition rate

Question 2

In which year was Ayushman Bharat launched?

Accepted Answer

2018

Answer

2015

Answer

2016

Answer

2019

Question 3

Which of the following is not included under AYUSH?

Accepted Answer

Acupuncture

Answer

Naturopathy

Answer

Unani

Answer

Homeopathy

Question 4

Which of the following are spacing methods used by family welfare programmes?

Accepted Answer

IUCD, OC, Vasectomy, Condom

Answer

OC, Vasectomy, Condom

Answer

IUCD, OC, Vasectomy

Answer

IUCD, OC

Question 5

Which of the following was NOT recommended by the Chadah committees?

Accepted Answer

Concept of a multipurpose health worker

Answer

Primary Health Centre (PHC) at the block level

Answer

One basic health worker per 10,000 population

Answer

Family planning health assistants to supervise 3 to 4 basic health workers

Question 6

What is the role of an ASHA worker in Directly Observed Treatment, Short-course (DOTS) therapy?

Accepted Answer

Serving as a DOTS provider

Answer

Providing direct observation on a daily basis

Answer

Assisting in the diagnosis of tuberculosis

Answer

Administering the BCG vaccine

Question 7

What term describes personal services rendered by doctors to patients in a hospital, nursing home, or at home?

Accepted Answer

Medical care

Answer

Health care

Answer

Domiciliary care

Answer

Nursing care

Question 8

Which of the following national health programs were initiated before 1960?

Accepted Answer

National Malaria Control Programme

Answer

National Filaria Control Programme

Answer

National Leprosy Control Programme

Answer

National Tuberculosis Programme

Question 9

PERT type of system is used for what purpose?

Accepted Answer

Network analysis

Answer

Cost effective analysis

Answer

Cost benefit analysis

Answer

Input-Output analysis

Question 10

Which of the following is NOT true regarding Primary Health Care?

Accepted Answer

Health services are taken to the doors of the people.

Answer

It is essential health care for all.

Answer

It places people's health in people's hands.

Answer

It involves sectors like agriculture, animal husbandry, food, industry, and communication.

Health Policy and Management — MCQs

Health Policy and Management — MCQs

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