Scope and Future of Mid-Level Health Care Providers (CHOS) at Ab-HWCs in India

Abstract

There are several countries suffering from short supply of healthcare workers, particularly in villages, it makes difficult to provide essential health care. Low-income of 49 countries to achieve the health MDGs by 2015, an additional 3.5 million health workers are needed. As a developing country, India has a large disease burden and a huge gap in providing medical facilities. There is a need for midlevel health care providers in different settings across the country to provide this service. Government of India has declared new pivotal role of Community Health Officer as part of National Health Mission in order to enable Indian community settings to have access to affordable health care. As outlined in the NMC Bill 2019, nurses will be given the first option as Community Health Officers, which will also facilitate their professional development. Health care access will be promoted through CHOs as a new transforming role. By serving as a MLHP, the CHO will reduce the burden on other health care professionals and also contribute to achieve the aim of “Health for All”. AYUSH and nursing practitioners only qualified candidates for this team in India. Their training and legal authorization limit their ability to provide health care in less cases than physicians, but they have greater access to it than other health care professionals.