## The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare Partners with QCI to Upgrade CGHS
The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has partnered with the Quality Council of India (QCI) to improve the Central Government Health Services (CGHS) ecosystem. This five-year collaboration will focus on a range of issues, including regular evaluation, quality monitoring, and accreditation.
The partnership aims to support CGHS facilities in achieving accreditation by the National Accreditation Board for Hospitals and Healthcare Providers (NABH) and the National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL). This will enhance the capacity of healthcare providers to deliver high-quality services.
QCI will play a crucial role in laying the groundwork for a sustainable system that meets the evolving needs of beneficiaries. Their focus will be on quality accreditation, capacity building, and technology integration.
The collaboration will also expand the network of qualified healthcare providers and laboratories empanelled under CGHS. This comes after discussions regarding the standardization of rates in hospitals across the country.
While the health ministry is engaging in consultations with stakeholders, private hospitals have expressed concerns about standardization potentially compromising the quality of healthcare.
This move by QCI to provide third-party assessment for improving quality standards in CGHS facilities follows the mandatory linkage of CGHS beneficiary IDs with Ayushman Bharat Health Account (ABHA) ID from April 1. This integration aims to streamline healthcare services and enhance patient identification.
Experts believe the collaboration is crucial to rejuvenate the CGHS system and address concerns about quality standards in certain empanelled facilities. The initiative underscores the growing realization that quality and patient safety are central to any healthcare program.
The collaboration will ensure regular evaluation and quality monitoring mechanisms are established. This will involve surprise audits and addressing complaints to continuously enforce quality standards.
The recent announcements by the government on the CGHS, along with the QCI collaboration, will help create a centralized health database system. This will establish an open and transparent CGHS system, benefiting both facilities and beneficiaries.