Public Facilities class 8 CIVICS

Question 1: The health condition in our country is poor. Justify.

Answer: Our country has money, knowledge, and people with experience but cannot make the necessary healthcare available to all.

 * The number of doctors is much less in rural areas because most doctors prefer to practice in urban areas.

 * Clean drinking water is not available to all. 21% of communicable diseases are water borne.

 * Many children do not get adequate food and water and are undernourished.

Question 2: What problems do we face in private hospitals?

Answer: 1. Private hospitals are concentrated in urban areas and the cost is high.

2. Many people cannot afford to buy expensive medicines.

3. To earn money these private hospitals encourage incorrect and expensive practices even when cheaper methods are available.

Question 3: What steps should be taken by the government to provide healthcare facilities to all?

Answer: 1. The government must safeguard the right of life of every person.

2. It is the duty of the government to provide necessary healthcare services including treatment in emergency situations.

3. The government should take action to prevent the spread of diseases like TB, malaria, and jaundice.

4. It is the responsibility of the government to establish hospitals and PHCs to provide health care to all its citizens.

5. The government should provide safe drinking water and clean surroundings.

Question 4: Improvement in water and sanitation can control many diseases. Explain with the help of examples.

Answer: 1. Water and sanitation are the basic necessities for the maintenance of our health.

2. Contaminated water causes a lot of health problems.

3. Cholera, malaria, and jaundice can be prevented by special organized methods and techniques.

4. Regular checks of water coolers, rooftops, and where water is stagnant should be there in every house. It will prevent mosquito breeding.

Thus, improvement in water and sanitation can control many diseases.

Question 5: What do you mean by Medical Ethics?

Answer: The medical council of India’s Code of Medical Ethics states:

 * Every physician should prescribe drugs with generic names.

 * He or she shall ensure there is a rational prescription and use of drugs.

Question 6: Differentiate between Public and Private health services.

Answer: Public Health Services:

 * It is a chain of health centres and hospitals run by the government.

 * They provide quality healthcare services either free or at low cost.

 * They are available throughout the country.

 * Resources required to run the services are obtained from taxes collected from people (e.g., AIIMS Hospital).

Private Health Services:

 * It is a chain of hospitals owned by individuals or private firms.

 * Patients have to give a lot of money for the services they use.

 * Private centres are located in the cities and urban areas.

 * Cost of the treatment has to be paid by the patients themselves (e.g., APOLLO Hospital).

Question 7: Health is a wider concept than illness. Discuss.

Answer: Illness affects the health and degrades the same. If a person lives in a dirty environment then his or her health will be affected. But if a person has a sound body and a sound mind, is emotionally and psychologically fit, then the person is healthy. The government provides facilities like hospitals, dispensaries, health care centres, and medicines to improve the health standard of people.

Question 8: Every illness in the family is a cause of great anxiety and distress. Explain.

Answer: 1. Poor people are undernourished. These families are not eating as much as they should.

2. They are not provided basic necessities like drinking water, adequate housing, and clean surroundings and therefore are more likely to fall ill.

3. The medical expenses on illness make their situation even worse. Sometimes, they have to borrow money or sell some of their possessions to pay for the expenses.