Catchment area

A geographic area defined and served by a health program or institution such as a hospital or community mental health centre, which is delineated on the basis of such factors as population distribution, natural geographic boundaries, and transportation accessibility.
By definition all residents of the area needing the services of the program are usually eligible for them, although eligibility may also depend on additional criteria.

Last update: 7 June 2023

Source: WHO, updated by PPRI