Dharamshala: The decision to discontinue the HIMCARE facility in private hospitals has sparked criticism among residents in one of Himachal Pradesh’s largest districts.
The HIMCARE scheme, which provided cashless treatment at private hospitals, was a significant relief for many. However, with its removal, concerns have arisen regarding the availability and quality of healthcare, especially for those who relied on private facilities for specialised treatments.
Govt hospitals meeting quality standards: CMO
Addressing these concerns, Chief Medical Officer Rajesh Guleri assured that government hospitals are maintaining quality standards comparable to private hospitals. “The government has implemented robust evaluation schemes to ensure quality in public healthcare.
Two key programmes are Kayakalp and the National Quality Assurance Standards (NQAS), which are analogous to the NABH accreditation in private hospitals,” Guleri stated.
NQAS: Rigorous hospital evaluation process
The NQAS involves a stringent evaluation process that starts with self-assessment, followed by state-level scrutiny. If a facility scores above 70 per cent at the state level, it moves on to a national assessment. “A three-member team from the central government then conducts a thorough evaluation over three days for district-level hospitals, with shorter durations for smaller centres,” explained Guleri.
Dharamshala hospital scores 92%, earns ₹3 lakh funding
Highlighting the success of these initiatives, Guleri noted that the Zonal Hospital in Dharamshala has achieved significant recognition. “Our Zonal Hospital has applied for NQAS certification in 16 categories and has achieved an impressive 92% score.
This achievement grants the hospital ₹10,000 per bed under the scheme,” he said. Additionally, the hospital has set high standards in labour room facilities in LaQshya (93%), securing an ₹3 lakh in funding. These funds are crucial for maintaining and improving the quality of services provided.
CMO’s vision: Boosting quality across 449 centres, 11 already certified
The district currently has 449 healthcare centres, with 11 already state-certified. The Chief Medical Officer emphasised the ongoing efforts to enhance the quality across more centres. “Our target is to set good standards in all our health facilities. We are actively working to get more centres certified,” Guleri affirmed.
While the withdrawal of the HIMCARE facility from private hospitals has caused concern, the government is committed to providing quality healthcare through public hospitals. The rigorous evaluation processes and recent achievements, such as those at the Dharamshala Zonal Hospital, are a testament to the high standards being upheld in the public healthcare system.
