02/03/2026
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These Standing Orders are a set of specific guidelines arranged by age group, disease conditions, findings, clinical judgement and actions which define how clients should be cared for.
should also be adhered to by Doctors and other health workers in PHC setting, unless there is a valid medical reason to deviate from them. The objectives of the Standing Orders are to:
give these health workers legal protection in their primary health care assignments;
provide a systematic framework for history taking and physical examination;
make the health workers treat less common, easily forgotten and more serious conditions;
maintain a high and uniform standard of health care;
minimize unnecessary, often-times expensive and time-consuming laboratory investigations;
provide a framework for evaluation, quality of care received by clients and staff performance.
The Standing Orders provide, as much as possible, the appropriate treatment for each condition listed. As a result of many years of field testing, they are practical and relevant to the setting in which Community Health Workers operate. By strictly adhering to the Standing Orders, the worker is acting under the authority and in the presence of the physician at all times. For any condition (sign or symptom) that the client is likely to complain of or present, the Standing Orders begin with a short write-up designed to acquaint the health worker with the significance of the findings. This is followed by suggested history/complaints and examination, then a list of the likely groups of findings (signs and symptoms) to help make a clinical judgement. For each group, there is a set of actions including health education, further investigation, treatment, and follow-up necessary for good client's care. Every attempt has been made to ensure simplicity, clarity and ease of use.
