The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare Partners with QCI to Upgrade CGHS
The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has entered into a five-year collaboration with the Quality Council of India (QCI) to revamp the Central Government Health Services (CGHS) ecosystem. This partnership focuses on improving the quality of healthcare services offered through CGHS by implementing various measures.
Accreditation: Supporting CGHS facilities in achieving accreditation by National Accreditation Board for Hospitals and Healthcare Providers (NABH) and National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL).
Enhancing the skills and knowledge of healthcare providers to deliver high-quality services.
Utilizing technology to improve efficiency and service delivery.
Expanding the network of qualified healthcare providers and laboratories empanelled under CGHS.
This collaboration comes amidst discussions on standardizing hospital rates across the country. While private hospitals have expressed concerns about potential compromises in quality, the QCI's involvement aims to ensure that quality standards are maintained and improved.
The collaboration also addresses concerns about the disparity in quality among different CGHS facilities, particularly regarding drug storage and procurement practices. The partnership will work towards modernizing these systems and ensuring consistent quality across all facilities.
Improved Quality of Care: Regular evaluation and quality monitoring mechanisms will be established to ensure consistent delivery of high-quality healthcare services.
Surprise audits and complaint redressal mechanisms will be implemented to continuously monitor and enforce quality standards.
The collaboration will contribute to the creation of a centralized health database system, improving transparency and accessibility of information.
Integration of CGHS beneficiary IDs with Ayushman Bharat Health Account (ABHA) IDs will facilitate seamless sharing of digital health records across platforms.
This collaboration between the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and QCI is a significant step towards upgrading the CGHS ecosystem and ensuring access to high-quality healthcare services for beneficiaries. It will also contribute to the broader goal of creating a robust and efficient healthcare system in India.