The Union Health Ministry in India has issued new operational guidelines for the country’s public hospitals, aiming to raise healthcare standards.
The newly released guidelines are designed to ensure minimum standards in services as well as human resources, addressing understaffing and resource shortages, especially in the country’s rural areas, Business Today reported.
They are directed at some of India’s key healthcare institutions such as the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research (JIPMER), and All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS).
These guidelines categorise patient care services into “vital”, “essential”, and “desirable”.
This classification seeks to provide a baseline level of care for everyone, with vital services being mandatory for every facility to ensure essential patient care.
Hospitals are also encouraged to implement practices to improve the patient experience, including the use of patient feedback systems and digital health tools.
The guidelines aim to make healthcare more responsive to patient needs through streamlined operations.
To ensure adherence, the government has introduced a monitoring system requiring hospitals to report compliance with the guidelines.
Hospitals must also submit proposals for approval when planning to implement significant changes or seeking funding, as stipulated by the guidelines.
This initiative signifies a higher standard of accountability to standardise care across healthcare institutions nationwide.
Business Today cited Union Health Ministry joint director Dinesh Kumar as saying: “The implementation of these guidelines is a critical step towards ensuring that every patient receives consistent and quality care, regardless of where they are treated.”
Another Union Health Ministry senior official said: “This approach shows a shift in the government’s healthcare strategy, focusing not only on treatment but also on improving patient satisfaction.”
