Which of the following is an example of tertiary health care?

• A. Primary care clinic
• B. Home health care service
• C. Rehabilitation center
• D. Oncology centers

Answer: (D)

Tertiary health care involves highly specialized, advanced medical services delivered in specialized centers, usually after referral from primary or secondary care. This level of care focuses on complex conditions that require multidisciplinary teams, specialized technology, and advanced treatment modalities.

An oncology center exemplifies this because cancer care often needs coordinated input from surgeons, medical and radiation oncologists, radiologists, pathologists, and supportive services, along with access to advanced therapies, imaging, clinical trials, and sometimes stem cell transplants. This goes beyond routine diagnosis and management and requires the expertise and resources of a tertiary facility.

In contrast, a primary care clinic handles first-contact, routine, and preventive care; home health care provides ongoing support and monitoring in the patient’s residence; rehabilitation centers focus on restoring function after acute illness or injury and may not involve the highly specialized, technology-driven treatment typical of tertiary centers.