Community Health Centers (CHCs) constitute the secondary level of health in India. However, these centers are fulfilling the tasks entrusted to them only to a limited extent. In order to provide quality care in these CHCs, Indian Public Health Standards (IPHS) are being prescribed to provide optimal expert care to the community and to maintain an acceptable standard of quality of care. These standards would help to monitor and improve the functioning of the CHCs.

The aim of this study is to apply the IPHS for evaluation of the CHCs of Rajasthan.

A cross-sectional observational study was conducted during August to October 2010. Four CHCs of Rajasthan were visited and data were collected in a pre-designed Performa. The quality of services provided in the selected CHCs as per the IPHS norms was assessed.

All the four CHCs were rendering the assured services of the outpatient department, 24-hour general emergency services, new born care, normal delivery, and referral (transport). All CHCs had full-time physicians, but only three (75%) had surgeons and obstetricians, two (50%) CHCs had pediatricians. One (25%) had anesthetists and one (25%) had a program manager. There was a blood storage facility at one (25%) CHC. Nursing staff were adequate. Basic laboratory facilities were available in all CHCs.

The present study revealed important deficiencies as per IPHS norms in the studied CHCs so that adequate measures can be taken to improve the healthcare facility.