## Population Coverage Standards for PHC **Key Point:** Indian Public Health Standards (IPHS) define PHC coverage based on terrain difficulty. ### PHC Population Coverage by Terrain Type | Terrain Type | Population Coverage | | --- | --- | | Plain/Urban | 10,000–15,000 | | Hilly/Tribal/Difficult | 3,000–5,000 | | Tribal/Scheduled Areas | 3,000–5,000 | **High-Yield:** The reduced population coverage in difficult terrain (3,000–5,000) reflects the challenges of accessibility, geographic dispersion, and limited infrastructure. This is a frequently tested NEET PG fact. **Clinical Pearl:** This standard ensures equitable access to basic health services across diverse geographies in India. A PHC serves as the first contact point in the referral chain and must be accessible within a reasonable distance. ### Referral Hierarchy PHC → CHC (Community Health Centre) → District Hospital **Mnemonic:** **PHC-3-5-Hilly** — PHC covers 3,000–5,000 population in hilly terrain.
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