Community Health Officer
Government of India launched a programme under Ayushman Bharat as Bridge Programmes in Community Health for "Nurses and Ayurveda" practitioner. after successful completion of this course Nurses and Ayurveda practitioner became Mid Level Healthcare Provider (MLHP) or Community Health Officer (CHO).[1]
National Medical Commission said; this is "merely an enabling provision to grant limited licence only in primary and preventive healthcare to practice medicine at mid-level to such persons, who qualify such criteria as may be specified by regulations which will have an overwhelming representation of Doctors", and after qualifying such criteria candidates serve as a mid level healthcare provider or Community Health Officer (CHO) in health and wellness centres under Ayushman bharat in India.
Eigibility
- Bridge Program on Certificate in Community Health for Nurses
- Bridge Program on Certificate in Community Health for Ayurveda Practitioners
In 2020, Government of India plan to Integration of Certificate Course in Community Health in B.Sc Nursing and Post-Basic Nursing Curriculum.
Grade pay
Tentative indicative monthly emolument for the CHO is approximately Rs. 40,000/- per month. (Part of it would be given as fixed amount and part as performance based payments). However, the State may make proposal in this regard as appropriate. However, it must be higher than general B.Sc/GNM Nurse/AYUSH doctors engaged under NHM.
Roles and Responsibilities
The trained CHO would broadly be expected to carry out public health functions, ambulatory care, management and leadership at the Health & Wellness Centers (H&WCs). They would be expected to:
- Implement National Programmes
- Administration and management at Health and Wellness Centers (or Sub-centers)
- Health education and encourage awareness about Family Planning, Maternal and Child Health, and Non-Communicable Diseases.
- Preventive, promotive and curative care
- Identification of Danger Signs and Referral after pre-referral stabilization
- Implement Biomedical waste disposal guidelines and Infection Control policies
- Supervision of health workers for Maternal and Child Health, Family Planning and Nutrition related services.
References
- Government programs
- India
- Occupation
- Health-related lists
- Community Health Officer
- Mid Level Healthcare Provider