Health Care Delivery Systems

Detailed Nursing Foundations Notes (1st Year B.Sc Nursing – INC)

This version includes multiple standard definitions from recognized sources, along with clear explanations + exam-ready content.

📌 1️⃣ Definition of Health Care Delivery System

🔹 Standard / Professional Definitions

👉 World Health Organization (WHO)A health system is defined as:“All organizations, people and actions whose primary intent is to promote, restore or maintain health.”

👉 Simplified Nursing Definition (Exam Writing)Health care delivery system is an organized structure of institutions, manpower, and resources to provide promotive, preventive, curative, and rehabilitative services.

📌 2️⃣ Objectives of Health Care Delivery System

• Promote health

• Prevent disease

• Provide treatment

• Rehabilitation

• Ensure accessibility and equality

📌 3️⃣ Levels of Health Care (With Definitions)

🔹 1. Primary Health Care

📖 Definition (WHO – Alma Ata Declaration, 1978)

“Primary health care is essential health care made universally accessible to individuals and families in the community through their full participation and at a cost the community can afford.”

Features

• first level of contact

• community-based

• affordable and accessible

Services

• immunization

• maternal care

• health education

Facilities

• Sub-centre

• PHC

🔹 2. Secondary Health Care

📖 Definition

“Secondary health care refers to specialized medical services provided by physicians and hospitals for patients referred from primary level.”

Features

• specialist services

• diagnostic facilities

Facilities

• CHC

• District hospital

🔹 3. Tertiary Health Care

📖 Definition

“Tertiary care is advanced, highly specialized medical care provided in large hospitals with sophisticated technology.”

Features

• ICU care

• advanced surgery

Facilities

• Medical colleges

• Super-specialty hospitals

📌 4️⃣ Health Care Delivery System in India

📖 Definition (Park)

India’s health care delivery system is a three-tier system consisting of primary, secondary, and tertiary care to ensure comprehensive health services.

Structure

Rural System

• Sub-centre

• PHC

• CHC

Urban System

• Urban health centre

• District hospital

• Medical college

📌 5️⃣ Components of Health Care Delivery System

📖 WHO Building Blocks

WHO identifies 6 building blocks of health system:

1. Service delivery

2. Health workforce

3. Information system

4. Medical products

5. Financing

6. Leadership/governance

Simplified Nursing Version

Component	Description
Services	promotive, preventive
Workforce	doctors, nurses
Infrastructure	hospitals
Policy	rules
Finance	funding

📌 6️⃣ Types of Health Services

📖 Park Definition

Health services are classified into:

1. Preventive Services

Prevent disease

Example: vaccination

2. Promotive Services

Improve health

Example: nutrition education

3. Curative Services

Treat disease

Example: medication

4. Rehabilitative Services

Restore function

Example: physiotherapy

📌 7️⃣ Role of Nurse in Health Care Delivery System

In Primary Level

• health education

• immunization

• antenatal care

In Secondary Level

• patient care

• monitoring

• assisting procedures

In Tertiary Level

• ICU care

• advanced nursing care

• critical monitoring

Community Role

• home visits

• disease prevention

• awareness programs

📌 8️⃣ Importance of Health Care Delivery System

• improves public health

• reduces mortality

• ensures accessibility

• supports national health programs

• promotes equity

📊 MASTER SUMMARY TABLE

Topic	Key Concept
definition	WHO + Park
levels	PST
services	PPCR
components	WHO blocks
nurse role	care + prevention

EXAM-READY DEFINITIONS (VERY IMPORTANT)

👉 Write ANY of these in exam:

Health Care Delivery System

“An organized system of health services designed to meet health needs of population.”

Primary Health Care

“Essential care made universally accessible at affordable cost.” (WHO)

Secondary Care

“Specialized care provided after referral.”

Tertiary Care

“Advanced specialized care with high technology.”

📝 Exam Important Questions

Short Answers

• Define health care delivery system (WHO/Park)

• Define primary health care

Long Answers

• Explain levels of health care system

• Describe health system in India

• Role of nurse in health system

Viva Questions

• What is Alma Ata Declaration?

• Difference between primary and tertiary care?

• What are WHO building blocks?

🔥 Pro Tip (High Marks)

👉 Always include:

• WHO definition

• Park definition

• Diagram (levels pyramid)

• Examples