Which option correctly lists the three levels of care in order?

• A. Primary, Secondary, Tertiary
• B. Secondary, Primary, Tertiary
• C. Tertiary, Secondary, Primary
• D. Primary, Tertiary, Secondary

Answer: (A)

Care is organized from general, first-contact services up to highly specialized treatment. Primary care is the initial point of access, handling common health needs and prevention. When more specialized evaluation or management is required, care moves to secondary, which involves specialists and hospital-based services. If a condition needs highly advanced expertise and complex procedures, tertiary care is provided in specialized centers. The correct order—primary, then secondary, then tertiary—reflects increasing specialization and complexity. The other sequences place more advanced care before general or mix the levels in a way that doesn’t match how care is escalated.