Can PHC system in India deliver Emergency Obstetric Care? : A management perspective on child survival and safe-motherhood programme

Abstract

India has an extensive network of hospitals and health centres with a large field staff in the government sector, which has been providing primary health care. Of late this infrastructure has been effective in delivering immunization services to the community. The Child Survival and Safe Motherhood (CSSM) programme envisages to strengthen this infrastructure to provide Emergency Obstetric services (EOC) which is the heart of the Safe Motherhood initiative. This paper reviews the state of the PHC system in India from a management perspective to assess its capability to deliver effective EOC. We analyze the `strengths and weaknesses' of the PHC system and the 'threats and opportunities' that the environment offers with regards to the development of an EOC facilities. Following the strategic management framework we analyse the safe motherhood programme as it is currently planned.