Baramulla: In a significant development, the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) has accorded National Quality Assurance Standards (NQAS) certification to PHC Sheeri of health Block Sheeri in north Kashmir’s Baramulla District in recognition of the high standards of quality and performance maintained by the hospital making it the first hospital to get NQAS certification in Kashmir.
According to sources, the primer hospital PHC Sheeri scored an overall rating of 83.6 percent and met the criteria required for achieving NQAS recognition and scoring 95 percent in Laboratory Department and 92 in OPD department. The hospital under NQAS certification will receive an additional grant of Rs 3 lakh per year for next 3 years under this programme.
“It is indeed a great moment for all of us as our PHC received the NQAS certification. We tried our best to improve the quality standards in the health facility and once your hard work is recognized and acknowledged it delighting indeed,” said Dr. Azhar- Medical Officer, PHC Sheeri.
Dr Azhar further added that it was all possible because of the dedication and unconditional support from Incharge BMO Dr. Rudhiana, who has been an outstanding administrator.
Speaking about the development, Dr. Rudhania, the Incharge BMO, said that it was a matter of pride for entire Kashmir and particularly for the district. “The feat was achieved through constant improvement in the healthcare facilities,” she added.
Giving details she further added that the sincere efforts had paid well as PHC Sheeri became the first in Kashmir division with NQAS certification scoring an overall rating of 83.6 percent and met the criteria required for achieving NQAS with OPD having scored 92.19 percent, Laboratory 95.28, Labour room 74.39, IPD 74.65, National Health programme 74.33 and General administration 89.14 percent.
She further said that every health facility is assessed under eight area of concern including service provision, patient rights, inputs, support, clinical services, infection control, quality management and outcome. Departmental checklists are separate for each facility.
While Laboratory Department of PHC gave its best and scored 95 percent, the Laboratory staff was appreciated by the masses as well as the officials. “We were examined for four hours. We gave our best and patient is the priority in our area as treatment begins following the tests from laboratory of the health facility. We believe in quality standards and were judiciously rated at 95 percent,” said the Lab Technician, Tariq Ahmad.
While congratulating, the Mission Director, NHM, J&K, Yasin M. Choudhary said that the certification has been accorded to the Hospital in recognition of the “high standards of quality and performance maintained by the hospital” in different sectors of healthcare when it comes to hospital hygiene and quality standards.
“The hospital shall receive a grant of Rs 3 lakh as part of the NQAS certification per year for next three years under National Health Mission and the certification will be for a period of three years, following which there will be re-inspection, he added.
The empanelled external assessors’ certification team, examined the facilities in the hospital and patient amenities from November 26th to November 27th, on the basis of which PHC Sheeri has been accorded “Quality Certified” under NQAS as communicated by Additional Secretary & Mission Director, Union MoH&FW, in a letter addressed to the UT government.
Meanwhile DC Baramulla, Bhupinder Kumar, tweeted his congratulations to all staff of PHC Sheeri Including CMO Baramulla Mirji Indrabi, BMO Sheeri Dr Rudiyana and Nodel Officer Dr Azhar Majeed Bhat for the commendable feat.
Kumar said that Sheeri hospital became the first facility in Kashmir to attain NAQS and was only amongst the few in Jammu and Kashmir, which not only make the administration proud but motivates everyone to perform even better.
Meanwhile, people from a cross section of society including Sarpanch Sheeri Ghulam Rasool Bhat, traders federation and Narvaw Welfare committee has congratulated the BMO Sheeri, Dr. Rudhania, Dr. Azhar and all staff members of Sheeri hospital for the recognition they earned.
