Quality of Health Care in PHC: Understanding from Patient Perspective

Primary health care through Primary health care system has been recognized as the effective strategy for improved health services across the world. In the present scenario where there is a steep rise in the health expenses, it is difficult for the poor to meet this rising health expenses. Most of them fall in debt trap and become bankrupt. It is the PHCs which is accessible to poor and can meet the health needs of the rural and marginalized section of the community. But the PHCs also have many deficits in facilities and services. This has to be evaluated so as to make necessary actions for improving the PHCs in the State. The study is a micro level analysis in understanding the quality of health care provided by PHCs through assessing the satisfaction of patients for the facilities and services they receive from PHCs. The study evaluates the satisfaction of patients towards the determinants of PHCs and analyzes the relationship between determinants of Patient satisfaction and Quality of health care. The result of the study shows that the determinants of patient satisfaction have a significant positive influence on the Quality of health care of PHC. The scope of the study is limited to Pathanamthitta district of Kerala. The insights from this article calls for more collaborative works in various facets of PHCs.