Integrated community health service model (ICHSM): A new hope for primary care in hilly outreach areas of Uttarakhand, India

Abstract

Comprehensive primary health care has been a subject of concern for millennia, and the Indian government has undertaken a variety of initiatives, including the National Health Mission, Ayushman Bharat, and Health and Wellness Centers, to mention a few. Despite this, there are significant challenges in providing equitable access to primary health care, particularly for persons who live in rural and hilly areas. The major goal of this model is to develop a comprehensive community-based participatory strategy for galvanizing the community toward improved health-care access and realizing the impact of community empowerment. A thorough literature search was conducted to identify the articles that provide a snapshot of primary hea lth-care services situation in mountainous regions of India. Based on the gaps identified in health-care delivery, we proposed a unique approach built on the principle of “to the community, for the community, and by the community.” This paper provides the description of the model, its importance, as well as effectiveness of its implementation in a hard-to-reach region. The model recommends developing a community taskforce within the community to educate the masses about their primary health-care needs, thus reducing emergency department visits and hospital admissions, and also assist the primary care or family physician in preparing a collaborative treatment plan for their patients in early stages of diseases.

Keywords

• community
• heath awareness
• integrated services
• primary health care