Lok Sabha Question No. 757 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-02-07
Subject: Certification of Health Services by NQAS
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: Shri Dushyant Singh

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 757 TO BE ANSWERED ON 07.02.2025

## CERTIFICATION OF HAELTH SERVICES BY NQAS

## 757. SHRI DUSHYANT SINGH:

Will the Minister of HEALTHANDFAMILYWELFARE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has taken efforts to improve quality of healthcare services through National Quality Assurance Standards (NQAS), if so, the details thereof;
- (b) the total number of health facilities which have received certification by NQAS;
- (c) the details of the role of new Bharat Health Initiative for Sahyog, Hita and Maitri (BHISHM) cubes in providing emergency life saving clinical care in the event of disaster/public health emergency along with the details of fund provided, State-wise;
- (d) the capacity of BHISHM cubes to handle the cases of diverse nature in emergency situations such as trauma, bleeding, burns etc.;
- (e) the total number of cubes placed in the first phase, specifically in the State of Rajasthan; and
- (f) whether the Government has any plan to take new steps to promote these initiatives in Jhalawar-Baran area of Rajasthan, if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

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

(a) The Government of India has 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.

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 (AAM-

UPHC), Ayushman Arogya Mandir- Primary Health Centre (AAM-PHC), and Ayushman Arogya Mandirs Sub-Centers (AAM-SHCs).

For ease of compliance in assessment, 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.

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.

(b) As on 31 st December 2024, total 22,786 number of health facilities have received NQAS certification in the country.

(c) to (f) The Bharat Health Initiative for Sahyog Hita & Maitri (BHISHM) Cubes are advanced mobile modular kits, designed to offer rapid, first-line medical care in the management of patients during first few hours following a disaster situation or public health emergencies.

The BHISHM Cube is built for maximum flexibility and for rapid deployment, with the ability to be delivered by air, sea, land, or drones, enabling quick response in remote or conflict zones. This multi-modal deployment capability ensures that the cubes can reach the most critical areas with minimal delay.

BHISHM Cubes are specifically engineered to handle a broad spectrum of patients that are common in disaster zones, which includes trauma, hemorrhage, burns, fractures, and other life-threatening injuries. In addition to its medical capabilities, each BHISHM Cube is equipped with survival provisions for a medical crew of up to five personnel for 48 hours. This includes food, water, shelter, power stations, and other survival aids, ensuring that teams can operate independently in austere conditions until further assistance arrives.

***