Recently, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on Friday launched virtual systems to aid in providing quality certifications for healthcare facilities

Virtual National Quality Assurance Standards (NQAS) assessment for Ayushman Arogya Mandirs (AAM)

• Objective: It will serve as a dashboard to help national, state, and district health institutions and facilities quickly monitor compliance with Indian Public Health Standards (IPHS) and take appropriate actions. 
  • Additionally, it will include an on-the-spot food license and registration initiative for food vendors.
• Role of Health officers: Community Health Officers lead the primary healthcare teams at AAM, who are trained to provide initial care, triage, and refer patients to the appropriate facilities for further treatment.
  • This approach lessens the load on secondary and tertiary care facilities by offering primary care services nearer to the community, supported by effective referral connections.
• Benefit: Early identification and management of health issues are crucial in preventing disease progression, thereby reducing the need for advanced care.
• National Quality Assurance Standards (NQAS): It was formulated for District Hospitals, Community Health Centres, Rural and Urban Primary Healthcare Centres, and Ayushman Arogya Mandirs (Sub Centres), aiming for complete compliance by 2026.

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NQAS for Integrated Public Health Laboratories (IPHL)

• Objective: Through the establishment of Integrated Public Health Laboratories (IPHL), the Ministry of Health and Welfare, Government of India, has bolstered laboratory systems under the PM-Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission (PM-ABHIM).
• Quality Diagnostic Services: These labs ensure accessible, efficient, and quality diagnostic services, crucial for effective healthcare delivery.
• Aim: The standards aim to enhance the quality and competence of management and testing systems in IPHLs, thereby improving the reliability of test results and fostering trust among clinicians, patients, and the public in lab outputs.

IPHS Dashboard for Real-time monitoring

• About: The IPHS Dashboard is an innovative digital platform for monitoring public health facilities in real-time. It offers a detailed overview of the assessment and compliance status of various facilities, such as District Hospitals, Sub-District Hospitals, Community Health Centers, Primary Health Centers, and Ayushman Arogya Mandirs.

Food Safety and Compliance System (FoSCoS)

• About: FoSCoS is a cutting-edge, nationwide IT platform tailored to meet all food safety regulatory requirements. This advanced system streamlines licensing and registration processes, providing an improved user experience.
• Functions: In addition to licensing and registrations, FoSCoS supports self-compliance with features like online return filings, hygiene ratings for food service establishments, and third-party audits for safety standards. 
  • Integrated with other IT platforms of the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), FoSCoS offers a comprehensive solution for food business operators.
  • Select categories such as wholesalers, distributors, retailers, transporters, storage facilities without atmospheric control + cold storage, importers, food vending agencies, direct sellers, and merchant-exporters can now obtain licences instantly, without needing intervention from a licensing authority.

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