Union Ministers of State for Health and Family Welfare, Shri Prataprao Ganpatrao Jadhav and Smt. Anupriya Singh Patel, introduced three key initiatives at the Ayushman Bharat, Quality Health event today. These initiatives aim to enhance healthcare services and ease of doing business in India.
- Virtual NQAS Assessment for Ayushman Arogya Mandirs (AAM):
- Aimed at improving the quality of healthcare in public facilities.
- Involves online evaluations for Ayushman Arogya Mandir Sub-centres.
- Dashboard for Indian Public Health Standards (IPHS):
- Facilitates real-time monitoring and compliance of health facilities with IPHS.
- Provides a comprehensive overview and helps in taking timely actions.
- Spot Food Licence Initiative for Food Vendors:
- Enhances ease of doing business by enabling instant issuance of food licenses.
- Utilizes the Food Safety and Compliance System (FoSCoS) for streamlined licensing and registration.
Additional Announcements:
- NQAS for Integrated Public Health Laboratories (IPHL):
- Ensures quality and competence in lab testing and management.
- Aims to provide accurate test results and gain public trust.
- Revised Guidelines for Kayakalp:
- Released during the event to further improve healthcare standards.
Shri Prataprao Ganpatrao Jadhav emphasized that these initiatives are part of the government’s ongoing efforts to provide “Healthcare for All” and promote wellness. He highlighted the significant achievements in expanding healthcare infrastructure and increasing the number of medical colleges and AIIMS institutes.
Smt. Anupriya Patel highlighted that the virtual NQAS assessment and the IPHS dashboard will lead to better quality healthcare, while the spot food license initiative will simplify the business processes for food vendors. She reiterated the government’s commitment to building a robust healthcare infrastructure by 2047.
Union Health Secretary Shri Apurva Chandra underscored the importance of maintaining quality standards in healthcare and incentivizing states to achieve NQAS certification.
FSSAI CEO Shri G Kamala Vardhana Rao stated that the instant issuance of licenses through FoSCoS would greatly improve ease of doing business, aligning with the vision of “Sabka Saath, Sabka Vishwas.”
Virtual Assessment for Ayushman Arogya Mandir
- The virtual certification of Ayushman Arogya Mandir Sub-centres represents a significant innovation in the quality assurance framework for public health facilities under the Ayushman Bharat scheme. More than 170,000 AAMs are operational nationwide, providing primary care and reducing the burden on secondary and tertiary care facilities.
Integrated Public Health Laboratories (IPHL)
- IPHLs ensure high-quality diagnostic services, reducing out-of-pocket expenses for patients. The NQAS for IPHLs aims to maintain consistent, precise, and safe lab testing processes, ensuring reliable diagnostic services.
IPHS Dashboard
- The IPHS Dashboard provides real-time data collection and analysis, enabling health officials to monitor and improve public health facilities. This digital platform ensures that healthcare institutions adhere to IPHS standards, leading to better health outcomes.
- FoSCoS is an IT platform designed to address all food safety regulatory needs, simplifying the licensing and registration processes for food businesses. The new functionality enables instant issuance of licenses for low-risk food businesses, enhancing the ease of doing business.
The launch of these initiatives marks a significant step towards improving healthcare quality and business processes in India, demonstrating the government’s commitment to fostering innovation, entrepreneurship, and economic growth. Key stakeholders from the health ministry, state governments, healthcare providers, and international health organizations attended the event.
