Improving the quality of healthcare services.

Enhancing training standards for health personnel.

Impact: Helped improve the functioning of PHCs and guided manpower development strategies.

Chadha Committee (1963)

Formed to assess the National Malaria Eradication Programme (NMEP).

Recommendations:

Deployment of Basic Health Workers (BHWs) for surveillance.
One BHW for every 10,000 population.

Impact: Contributed to integrated disease surveillance, though later modified.

Mukherjee Committee (1965–66)

Evaluated vector-borne disease control programmes.

Recommendations:

Strengthening of the urban malaria scheme.
Integration of malaria activities with general health services.

Jungalwalla Committee (1967)

Focused on integration of health services.

Recommendations:

Creation of a unified cadre for health services.
Common seniority and equal pay for similar roles.

Impact: Helped reduce fragmentation between preventive and curative services.

Kartar Singh Committee (1973)

Key role in reorganizing primary healthcare.

Main recommendations:

Formation of sub-centres to support PHCs.
Each sub-centre to serve 3,000-3,500 population in rural areas.

Impact: Basis for present-day Sub-Centre structure.

Shrivastava Committee (1975)

Focused on medical education and rural health manpower.

Recommendations:

Development of para-professional and semi-professional health workers.
Introduction of Community Health Volunteers.

Impact: Strengthened community participation in healthcare.

Bajaj Committee (1986)

Reviewed healthcare manpower requirements.

Recommendations:

Need-based training programs.
Creation of health manpower plans at national and state levels.

National Health Policy Committees (1983, 2002, 2017)

These committees drafted the National Health Policies, focusing on universal health coverage, quality of care, health financing, and strengthening primary healthcare.

Primary Health Care Approach – Principles and Elements

Primary Health Care (PHC)

Primary Health Care (PHC) is a people-centered, community-based, and preventive-first approach to health that aims to provide accessible, affordable, equitable, and quality healthcare to all individuals. The concept was introduced globally during the Alma-Ata Conference (1978), which emphasized "Health for All" through essential health services delivered as close as possible to where people live and work.

PHC focuses not only on treating illness but also on promoting health, preventing diseases, and empowering communities to take control of their own health.

I. Principles of Primary Health Care

The PHC approach is guided by five core principles, though sometimes expanded into more depending on interpretation.

Accessibility / Universal Coverage
- Health services must be physically, socially, and economically accessible to all.
- PHC should be available within reasonable distance and without discrimination.
- Ensures rural, remote, and underserved populations receive adequate care.
Community