Concept of health and disease: elements of primary health care: practice question

A PSM question in the style of the NEET PG paper. Answer it first, then read why the right option is right and why each of the others is wrong.

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PSM · Concept of health and disease: elements of primary health care

Sample item

Which of the following is NOT among the essential elements of primary health care described at Alma-Ata?

Original practice item, not a recalled exam question. Nothing here is recorded.

The answer and the reasoning

B. Advanced super-specialty surgical services

The elements include education on health problems, food supply and nutrition, safe water and sanitation, maternal and child care with family planning, immunisation, prevention of endemic diseases, treatment of common illness and injuries, and essential drugs. Super-specialty surgery is tertiary care.

Option by option

  • A. Adequate supply of safe water and basic sanitation

    Safe water and sanitation are an explicit element.

  • B. Advanced super-specialty surgical services (correct)

    Correct. Super-specialty surgery is not a primary care element.

  • C. Provision of essential drugs

    Essential drugs are an explicit element.

  • D. Maternal and child health including family planning

    MCH including family planning is an essential element.

Source note: Original NextPrep sample item — pending expert review. This item is original practice material awaiting independent expert review, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.

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Questions about this PSM question

What is the answer to this PSM question?

The best answer is B, Advanced super-specialty surgical services. The elements include education on health problems, food supply and nutrition, safe water and sanitation, maternal and child care with family planning, immunisation, prevention of endemic diseases, treatment of common illness and injuries, and essential drugs.

Why is "Adequate supply of safe water and basic sanitation" not the answer?

Safe water and sanitation are an explicit element.

Why is "Provision of essential drugs" not the answer?

Essential drugs are an explicit element.

Why is "Maternal and child health including family planning" not the answer?

MCH including family planning is an essential element.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Concept of health and disease: elements of primary health care in PSM. Super-specialty surgery is tertiary care.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as an application question: it asks you to use a fact on a patient or a finding. The tag is our own editorial judgement, not an official difficulty rating, so read the reason for every option, not only the answer.

How should I study Concept of health and disease: elements of primary health care?

Practise biostatistics with small calculations until sensitivity, predictive values and risk measures are automatic. Then use the flashcards and the other PSM questions on this site to test what stuck.

Is this a real NEET PG question?

No. It is an original practice item (editorial status: sample, version 1). NextPrep does not publish recalled or leaked questions, and independent faculty review of this item has not been completed yet, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.