PHO 2nd Paper Only

Public Health Officer (PHO) Federal Syllabus – Part 2 Overview

In total, the Part 2 PHO PSC syllabus covers policy, programmatic knowledge, district-level health management, and organizational/administrative aspects of Nepal’s health sector. It is designed not just to test theoretical knowledge, but also to measure the candidate’s ability to critically analyze health policies, manage national and local health programs, and ensure effective coordination across multiple sectors.

The Public Service Commission (PSC) syllabus for Public Health Officers is designed to evaluate knowledge, skills, and managerial capacity required for Nepal’s health sector. The syllabus is structured into four major sections (A–D), each focusing on specific domains of public health theory, policy, and practice.

Section A – Health Policies and Issues (30 marks)

This section emphasizes the evolution and framework of Nepal’s health system. Candidates must understand:

• National Health Policy 1991 – its vision, objectives, and implementation.
• Current National Population Policy – demographic goals, fertility control, and population management.
• Second Long Term Health Plan (1997–2017) – strategies for universal health coverage and system strengthening.
• Health sector aspects in the current Five-Year Plan – aligning policies with national development priorities.

Section B – National Health Programs (30 marks)

This is the most content-heavy portion, requiring detailed knowledge of major national health programs:

• Family Planning, Safe Motherhood, Immunization, Nutrition, IMCI, Malaria, TB, Leprosy, STI/HIV/AIDS – their objectives, strategies, targets, and current status.
• National Health Training Center (NHTC) – roles in training, refresher courses, and continuing medical education.
• National Health Education Information and Communication Center (NHEICC) – communication and awareness strategies.
• District Health Profiles – development and use in planning.
• Community-based programs like Female Community Health Volunteers (FCHV) and Primary Health Care Outreach Clinics (PHC-ORC).
• Emergency preparedness through Disaster Management and Early Warning Reporting System (EWARS).
• Health sector reform strategies and institutional frameworks like HMIS (Health Management Information System), LMIS (Logistics), HEFU (Health Economics and Financing Unit), and HURIC (Human Resource Information Center).

Section C – District-Level Health Program Management (20 marks)

This part tests practical managerial capacity. Candidates should know how to plan, implement, and monitor public health activities at the district level. It includes:

• Managing family planning, safe motherhood, immunization, nutrition, vector-borne diseases (malaria, kala-azar, JE), TB, leprosy, and HIV/AIDS.
• Organizing training at the district level.
• Health education, information, and communication at community level.
• Conducting and managing health camps effectively.

Section D – Management Issues in Nepal’s Health Services (20 marks)

This section focuses on administrative and managerial skills essential for health officers:

• Personnel and human resource management – principles, functions, and applications in health.
• Community organization – principles and processes of mobilizing people.
• Supervision, monitoring, and evaluation of health systems.
• Inter- and intra-sectoral coordination in health service delivery.
• Indigenous and traditional health care systems like Ayurveda – their current role and analytical study.
• Organizational structure of the Ministry of Health and Population (MoHP) – functions and analysis.