Question

One Primary Health Centre (PHC) covers how much population in a hilly area?

• A. 10000
• B. 20000
• C. 30000
• D. 50000

Hint:

Plain area PHC covers 30000; the hilly or tribal norm is lower.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is B

Step 1: A Primary Health Centre is the first contact point between the village community and the medical officer. Its population coverage norm differs between plain and difficult terrain.

Step 2: In plain areas one PHC covers a population of 30000, while in hilly, tribal and difficult areas the norm is reduced to 20000 because the population is scattered and access is harder.

Step 3: Therefore in a hilly area one PHC covers 20000 people. The value 30000 applies to plain areas, while 10000 and 50000 do not correspond to PHC norms (a sub-centre covers 5000 in plains and 3000 in hilly areas). Hence 20000 is correct.