Lok Sabha Question No. 4627 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-03-28
Subject: National Quality Assurance Standards
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: Dr. D. Purandeswari

## GOVERNMENTOFINDIA MINISTRY OFHEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE DEPARTMENTOFHEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4627 TO BE ANSWERED ON 28.03.2025

## NATIONALQUALITY ASSURANCE STANDARDS

## 4627. DR. D. PURANDESWARI:

Will the Minister of HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has successfully implemented the National Quality Assurance Standards (NQAS) framework in health facilities, if so, the details thereof indicating the number of facilities which have received NQAS certification, State/UT-wise including Andhra Pradesh;
- (b) whether the expansion of NQAS to include various types of health facilities, such as SubDistrict Hospitals and Community Health Centres, has improved the quality of healthcare services in the States, including Andhra Pradesh, if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the introduction of digital technology for virtual assessments under NQAS has facilitated compliance and enhanced the efficiency of healthcare service delivery in these States including in Andhra Pradesh, if so, the details thereof;
- (d) whether there are ongoing efforts to ensure that Integrated Public Health Laboratories (IPHLs) meet NQAS standards in these States including Andhra Pradesh and if so, the measures being taken to monitor and improve laboratory testing processes; and
- (e) whether the Government anticipates that the implementation of NQAS will lead to better patient outcomes and increased public trust in healthcare services, if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE (SHRI PRATAPRAO JADHAV)

- (a) to (e): The Government of India has successfully implemented the National Quality Assurance Standards (NQAS) which is a comprehensive framework established by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW), aimed at ensuring and enhancing the quality of healthcare services provided at public health facilities.

The State/UT-wise number of facilities which have received NQAS certification including Andhra Pradesh is at Annexure.

Initially, the Standards were applied for District Hospitals, aiming to ensure that services provided through public health facilities are safe, patient-centric, and of assured quality. Subsequently, these standards were extended to Sub-District Hospitals (SDH), Community Health Centers (CHCs), Ayushman Arogya Mandir -Urban Primary Health Centre (AAMUPHC), Ayushman Arogya Mandir- Primary Health Centre (AAM-PHC), and Ayushman Arogya Mandirs Sub-Centers (AAM-SHCs).

To further instil a culture of continuous quality improvement and ease of compliance in healthcare sector, digital technology was leveraged and 'Virtual Assessment for National Quality Assurance Standards (NQAS) Certification of Ayushman Arogya Mandir- Sub Health Centers (AAM-SHCs)' was launched on 28 th June, 2024. 10%of the virtually assessed AAM- Sub Centres be verified physically through onsite-assessment. This has facilitated compliance and enhanced the efficiency of healthcare service delivery in all States/UTs including Andhra Pradesh.

In Andhra Pradesh, since the inception of virtual certification in August 2024, a total of 333 AAMSHChave undergone virtual assessment. Apart from this 506 AAM-SHC have undergone physical assessment before August 2024.

On June 28, 2024, the National Quality Assurance Standards (NQAS) for Integrated Public Health Laboratories (IPHLs) were launched to enhance the accuracy and precision of testing processes and results. To support this initiative, a Training of Trainers (ToT) program was conducted in August 2024, equipping state and district level officials with the knowledge and skills required for effective implementation. These measures aim to improve the accuracy, reliability, and efficiency of laboratory testing while ensuring consistent quality standards across all IPHLs.

NQAS provides a comprehensive framework aimed at enhancing the quality of care in public health facilities by focusing on areas such as service provision, patient rights, inputs, support services, clinical care, infection control, quality management. This lead to better patient outcomes and increased public trust in healthcare services.

## State/UT-wise number of facilities received NQAS certification

| Sl. No.   | State                                 |   Total NQAS Certified Facilities* |
|-----------|---------------------------------------|------------------------------------|
| 1         | Daman and Diu &Dadar and Nagar Haveli |                                101 |
| 2         | Chandigarh                            |                                 25 |
| 3         | Andhra Pradesh                        |                               4884 |
| 4         | West Bengal                           |                               3500 |
| 5         | Goa                                   |                                 42 |
| 6         | Tripura                               |                                230 |
| 7         | Odisha                                |                               1536 |
| 8         | Gujarat                               |                               1977 |
| 9         | Assam                                 |                                814 |
| 10        | Punjab                                |                                595 |
| 12        | Madhya Pradesh                        |                               1962 |
| 11        | Karnataka                             |                               1511 |
| 13        | Telangana                             |                                696 |
| 14        | Tamil Nadu                            |                               1168 |
| 15        | Haryana                               |                                381 |
| 16        | Uttar Pradesh                         |                               2625 |
| 17        | Sikkim                                |                                 18 |
| 18        | Mizoram                               |                                 34 |
| 22        | Chhattisgarh                          |                                497 |
| 19        | Delhi                                 |                                 48 |
| 20        | Rajasthan                             |                                760 |
| 21        | Jharkhand                             |                                238 |
| 23        | Meghalaya                             |                                 44 |
| 24        | Himachal Pradesh                      |                                105 |
| 25        | Puducherry                            |                                  6 |
| 26        | Nagaland                              |                                 23 |
| 27        | Manipur                               |                                 19 |
| 28        | Kerala                                |                                271 |
| 29        | Arunachal Pradesh                     |                                 13 |
| 30        | Jammu &Kashmir                        |                                 65 |
| 31        | Uttarakhand                           |                                 38 |
| 32        | Ladakh                                |                                  4 |
| 33        | Maharashtra                           |                                 91 |
| 34        | Bihar                                 |                                 43 |
| 35        | Andaman &Nicobar Islands              |                                  0 |
| 36        | Lakshadweep                           |                                  0 |
|           | TOTAL                                 |                              24364 |