Port Blair, Jan. 23: For the purpose of implementing the National Quality Assurance Standards (NQAS) programme, the Central Team, which included Dr. J. N. Srivastava (Advisor), Dr. Anand Yadav (Consultant), and Dr. Abhay Dahiya (Consultant), visited A&N Islands. They determined where the Health Institutions needed to improve and assured full implementation of NQAS by the year 2026. The Central Team held a meeting with UT officials under the Chairmanship of The Mission Director-UTHM with Director of Health Services, Director (ANIIMS), State Nodal Officer (NQAS) and State Programme Manager– State Health Society where various gaps and challenges faced by the Health Institutions and the action plan for the same were discussed.

The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Govt. of India has developed National Quality Assurance Standards for all level of public health facilities with an aim to ensure access to quality health services, advocacy, and implementation of global best practices in public health facilities and to enhance satisfaction among patients and healthcare staff.

Further, in order to comprehend the significance of the NQAS and initiate its implementation, the team held a two-day Internal Assessor Training at AYUSH Conference Hall on Jan. 18 &19, 2024, for the Medical Officers and Paramedical staff of various Health Institutions in A&N Islands.