Eight areas of concern, an ISQUA accreditation and ₹10,000 a bed: the standards behind Keralam's certified health centres

Background

This explains the National Quality Assurance Standards behind the certification just won by the Varavoor Family Health Centre in Thrissur. Introduced in 2013, it is scored on eight areas of concern. Four of these look at the care itself — Clinical Care, Infection Control, Patient Rights and Outcome. The remaining four are Inputs, Service Provision, Support Services and Quality Management. The standards are accredited by ISQUA. They cover district hospitals, Community Health Centres, Primary Health Centres, Urban PHCs and Health and Wellness Sub Centres. Keralam customised the checklist in November 2017 with help from the NHSRC, dropping items that did not fit the State and adding palliative care. On national accreditation the facility receives ₹10,000 for every functional bed, of which 25 per cent goes as individual incentives and 75 per cent to staff welfare and the work environment. The same amount is paid each year for keeping the accreditation.