15 PHCs and three upgraded PHCs in Kallakurichi get NQAS certification

Fifteen PHCs and three UGPHCs in Kallakurichi district awarded national certificates for NQAS compliance in 2023-24.

Fifteen Government Primary Health Centres (PHCs) and three Upgraded Primary Health Centres (UGPHC) in Kallakurichi district have bagged national-level certificates for their compliance with the National Quality Assurance Standards (NQAS) for the year 2023-24.

The NQAS certificates for the 18 centres were given after separate teams of national assessors from various States deputed by the Central government carried out thorough inspection of the centres during the last financial year. The assessment of the centres was done by the National Health Mission and the National Health System Resource Centre.

According to a Health department official, the teams checked among others, the out-patient and in-patient rooms, infrastructure facilities, labour room, laboratory, x-ray, scan services, equipment available, quality of services provided to patients, besides review of records. As part of their three-day inspection at each of the 18 centres, the teams interacted with the patients and ascertained their feedback on the quality of services and also whether the doctor and staff were patient-friendly.

The inspections were conducted based on a national standard checklist. Eraiyur and Malaikottalam PHCs scored 95.02% and 92.54 % respectively, followed by Koothakudi at 91.03% and Vadaponparappi at 90.62%. Among the upgraded PHCs, Melur scored 90.19% followed by Ilavasanurkottai at 87.3%.

The PHCs in Eraiyur, Kilakadu, Malaikottalam, Koothakudi, Vadaponparappi, Kattuyedaiyar, Vanapuram, Seerpanandal, Solampattu, Melnariyappanur, Vilanthai, Nainarpalayam, Kalamarudhur, Mungilthuraipattu and Eduthavainatham and UGPHCs in Melur, Ilavanasurkottai and Kachirapalayam have bagged the certificates.

The validity of the certificates is for a period of three years.