To determine the level at which school health services are typically implemented, we should consider the structure and function of healthcare systems, particularly focusing on preventive medicine and primary healthcare. In many countries, the healthcare system is organized into several levels to provide different types of care:
- District: This level usually supervises and manages healthcare facilities and programs across a wider geographic area. While districts may play a role in overarching program management, direct service delivery typically occurs at more localized levels.
- Subcentre: This is the most peripheral level of healthcare often catering to a smaller population, generally focusing on maternal and child health services, and basic healthcare.
- Subdistrict: This level serves as an intermediary administrative component, supporting the coordination of activities between subcentres and higher administrative levels like districts.
- PHC (Primary Health Centre): These are established to provide an integrated curative and preventive healthcare service to rural populations. PHCs serve as a backbone for rural healthcare delivery below the district level and often oversee programs like school health services, given their focus on community health and preventive measures.
With this organizational understanding, school health services, being community-centric and preventive in nature, are implemented at the Primary Health Centre (PHC) level. PHCs are tasked with promoting health education, prevention programs, and coordination of activities like routine health check-ups for children, thereby making it the appropriate level for school health services.