Community Health Officer (CHO), also known as Mid-Level Health Provider (MLHP) and non-physician practitioner, are skilled healthcare professionals with a defined scope of practice. In India, eligibility for this role is limited to Nursing and AYUSH Practitioners. This signifies that they undergo training and possess legal authorization to deliver healthcare in more situations than other health professionals, albeit fewer than physicians.
In India, the term Community Health Officer is interchangeable with Mid-Level Practitioner. Recently, Community Health Officers at Ayushman Bharat Health and Wellness Centres in India have gained permission to dispense specific medicines to patients, as specified in Section 23 of Schedule K of Drugs and Cosmetics Rules, 1945. Thus, in India, Community Health Officer (CHO) serves as another designation for a mid-level practitioner.