Dr Rehan Ahmad Qureshi interacting with ASHAs at Burma Camp UPHC during the NQAS assessment. (Photo Courtesy: Dimapur Dy CMO)
Dimapur, May 8 (MExN): Two Urban Primary Health Centres in Dimapur were recently assessed for National Quality Assurance Standards (NQAS) Certification.
According to a press release from the Dimapur Deputy Chief Medical Officer Dr Antoly Suu, the assessment for UPHC Duncan was done on May 4 and 5 while the UPHC Burma Camp was assessed on May 6 and 7.
Dr Suu informed that NQAS Certification programme, which is the highest National Quality Certification, was launched in 2013 with an aim to improve the quality of care in public health facilities of India and to recognize good performing facilities as well as improving credibility of public hospitals in the community. Certification is provided against meeting pre-determined NQAS criteria.
As per the release, Quality Assurance Standards are primarily meant for health care providers to assess their own quality for improvement in health care services through pre-determined standards and to bring up their facilities for this coveted certification. The National Quality Assurance Standards are broadly arranged under 8 areas of concern viz., Service provision, Patient Rights, Inputs, Support services, Clinical care, Infection Control, Quality Management and Outcome. These Standards are ISQua (International Society for Quality in Health Care) accredited and meets global benchmarks in terms of comprehensiveness, objectivity, evidence and rigour of development.
While UPHC Seikhazou in Kohima is the only NQAS Certified public health facility in Nagaland, the UPHCs at Duncan and Burma Camp under National Urban Health Mission (NUHM) Dimapur have qualified for National Level NQAS Assessment through the Peer Level NQAS Assessment and State Level NQAS Assessment, the release stated.
The National Level NQAS Certification Assessors for UPHC Duncan included Dr Amar Bodhi, Associate Professor; Dr BR Sur HMC, Delhi; Kirtiman Mahanta, Hospital Manager, VIMSAR Burla, Odhisa while UPHC Burma Camp was assessed by Dr Rehan Ahmad Qureshi, State Consultant, Tata Trust, Bhopal and Kirtiman Mahanta. These NQAS External Assessors were appointed by the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India, as per the release. After examining the health facilities, the Assessors will determine if these health facilities are eligible for this certification.
