Anoop Khinchi, IAS along with Principal Director, Mission Director (NHM) and officers of DoHFW at IDSP Hall, Kohima on January 7.
Kohima, January 7 (MExN): The Nagaland government has launched a 100-day mission to accelerate the quality certification of its public health facilities, aiming to meet national targets after a previous deadline was missed.
The virtual launch of the ‘100 Days National Quality Assurance Standard (NQAS) Mission’ was conducted by Anoop Khinchi, IAS, Commissioner & Secretary of Health & Family Welfare, Government of Nagaland from the IDSP Hall in Kohima on January 7.
The mission aims to achieve NQAS certification for 50% of the state’s public health facilities by March 2026. In addition, as per Government of India guideline, 100% of Public Health Facilities are to be NQAS certified by December 2026 and “to achieve this Nagaland is moving forward in a Mission mode.”
“The state is supposed to achieve 50% certification of the health units by December 2025, however the target could not be attained,” stated a press release from the National Health Mission, Nagaland. The new mission is a push to meet the target within an extended timeline, it added.
At the launch, Khinchi emphasised the importance of the NQAS Certification of the public health set up stating, “it is a framework to enhance quality patient care and also to build confidence of the people on the Public Health Care system.”
He urged the State and District Mentoring Teams, whose role are important, to work diligently for the state to achieve the target.
Making an appeal to the “Health Personnel and everyone concerned in the Districts to adhere to the timelines,” Khinchi said, expressing confidence that the mission will be attained if we work as a team and that; we should all take pride in our health facilities being NQAS certified.
Dr Mereninla Senlem, Principal Director of the Directorate of Health & Family Welfare, highlighted the central government’s emphasis on quality healthcare through NQAS Certification. She stressed the need for internal institutional systems and a sense of ownership among service providers, calling on Chief Medical Officers (CMOs), Medical Superintendents (MSs), and District Program Officers to actively participate.
Dr Keveduyi Theyo, Mission Director of the National Health Mission, Nagaland, explained that the mission was launched to expedite the certification process under a specific timeline and requested all districts to contribute their best efforts.
In his closing remarks, Dr Sentimeren Aonok, Director (Health & ME & RS), stated that the NQAS mission should not be viewed as a standalone programme but as one that incorporates all healthcare delivery activities. “This certification is very important as a NQAS certified health facility will automatically ensure the best and the safest health care delivery system to our patients in the presence of a clean and healthy environment,” he emphasised.
