The sustained efforts of the coalition government to enhance the quality of healthcare services in Andhra Pradesh have received significant national recognition, with as many as 1,454 government hospitals securing certification under the National Quality Assurance Standards (NQAS). Health Minister Satyakumar Yadav announced on Wednesday that the Union government has issued certification documents to these hospitals, marking a major milestone in public healthcare delivery.

The Minister said the achievement was particularly noteworthy as NQAS certification is generally associated with corporate hospitals, and receiving it on such a large scale for government-run institutions reflects the success of reforms initiated after the coalition government assumed office in June last year. He described the recognition as validation of the State’s focused approach towards improving patient care, infrastructure and service delivery in public hospitals.

NQAS certification is awarded based on rigorous assessment of multiple parameters, including OPD and IPD services, availability of essential medicines, infrastructure, cleanliness, infection control practices, diagnostic facilities, clinical documentation and patient feedback. Expert teams appointed by the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare conduct on-site inspections and submit detailed evaluation reports before certification is granted.

Of the 1,454 certified hospitals, 1,236 are Ayushman Arogya Mandirs, 72 are Primary Health Centres (PHCs), 139 Urban Primary Health Centres (UPHCs) and seven Community Health Centres (CHCs). The Minister noted that proposals for an additional 272 government hospitals have already been submitted to the Centre for certification this year, and central expert teams are expected to visit the State later this month for assessments.

District-wise performance shows East Godavari district leading the State with 138 NQAS-certified hospitals, followed by YSR Kadapa district with 122 and Eluru district with 118. In contrast, only 665 government hospitals achieved NQAS recognition during the previous government’s five-year tenure.

The Minister also highlighted that NQAS-certified hospitals are eligible for financial incentives from the Union government. Ayushman Arogya Mandirs receive Rs 1.26 lakh annually for three years, PHCs Rs 3 lakh, UPHCs Rs 2 lakh, and secondary-level hospitals Rs 10,000 per bed per year for three years.

Commending doctors, officers and healthcare staff for their commitment, Satyakumar Yadav urged them to continue working with the same dedication to strengthen public health security and ensure quality healthcare for all citizens.