Proud achievement for Kerala: Eleven more hospitals in state get national recognition

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Eleven more hospitals in the state have been approved by the National Quality Assurance Standard (NQAS), said Health Minister Veena George. The Union Ministry of Health informed the state health department about this. The minister said he it is proud to receive the NQAS recognition for the state's health institutions continuosuly amid the Covid defense activities. .

Malappuram Athanikal Family Health Center (score 86.29%), Kozhikode Moodadi Family Health Center (90.4%), Kollam Elampallur Family Health Center (95.26%), Kannur Panoor Urban Primary Health Center (93.34%), Thrissur Gosaikunnu Urban Primary Health Center (78%) Thiruvananthapuram Vattiyoorkavu Urban Primary Health Center (93.91%), Kannur New Mahe Family Health Center (87.6%), Thrissur Porkalengadu Urban Primary Health Center (94.26%), Kollam Mundakkal Urban Primary Health Center (91.8%) and Kozhikode Purameri Family Health Center (95.8%) ) And Idukki Udumbanchola Family Health Center (92.6%) are the institutions that received NQAS recognition.

Kerala still retains the recognition of the state (28 centers) which has the highest number of NQAS in the Urban Primary Health Center category. In addition, Kerala retains the top 12 position in the category of best primary health care centers in the country. Thiruvananthapuram Ottasekharamangalam Puzhanad Family Health Center and Kasaragod Kaiyur Rakthasakshi Smaraka Family Health Center are ranked first in India with a score of 99%. With the addition of 11 new institutions to NQAS, a total of 119 health institutions in the state have been able to achieve this accreditation.

NQAS has approved three district hospitals, four taluk hospitals, seven community health centers, 28 urban primary health centers and 77 family health centers. NQAS carries out evaluation over 6,500 checkpoints in eight categories: Service Provision, Patient Right, Input, Supportive Services, Clinical Services, Infection Control, Quality Management, and Outcome.

The quality standard of hospitals is ensured after district level inspections and state level inspections by national level inspectors appointed by the NHSRC. Institutions which get more than 70% marks in each of these categories are recognized by the Government of India as NQAS accredited. NQAS accreditation has a three-year term. After three years there will be a review by the National Level Group. NQAS accredited PHCs will get an annual incentive of Rs 2 lakh each and other hospitals will get an annual incentive of Rs 10,000 per bed. The minister said on Facebook that this would help in the further development of the hospital.