URBAN PRIMARY HEALTH CENTRE SEIKHAZOU AWARDED THE NATIONAL QUALITY ASSURANCE STANDARD CERTIFICATION

A short programme to felicitate Urban Primary Health Centre (UPHC) Seikhazou for being awarded the National Quality Assurance Standard (NQAS) was held at the Office Chamber of the Minister, Health & Family Welfare Civil Secretariat Kohima on 30th June 2020.

Speaking at the programme, Minister, H&FW, Pangnyu Phom lauded the Department for their efforts in delivering quality healthcare services to the State, especially in the time of COVID-19 pandemic. Congratulating the UPHC Seikhazou for being awarded the NQAS, he said that such achievements bring laurel not only to the Department but to the entire State. The Minister stated the need to create more of such healthcare facilities in the remote areas of the State, and emphasized that UPHCs should be set up, at least in all the District Headquarters of the State.

Mission Director NHM Dr. Kevichusa Medikhru highlighting on NUHM, said it was launched in Nagaland on 24th February 2014 and UPHC Seikhazou started in June 2014. He stated that UPHC Seikhazou facility underwent various assessment by a two member team of empanelled external assessors, and after meeting all the criteria, was awarded ‘quality certified’ under NQAS. He said that since its inception, the UPHC Seikhazou has been providing equitable and quality primary health care services to the urban population. He further added that UPHC Seikhazou is rendering commendable service and even during this time of COVID-19 pandemic, the facility is catering to the need of all the other essential services to the people.

The UPHC Seikhazou Team briefed the Minister about the ongoing activities being carried out in the Centre, the difficulties being faced in delivering services to the people, and in this regard, informed the Minister that adequate inflow of fund is the need of the hour, to keep the UPHC going. This will ensure proper supply of drugs, medical equipments, and sufficient human resources, which will encourage the Centre to perform better.

There are five criteria for NQAS Certification, namely a) Aggregate score of health facility is 70 % b) Aggregate score in each area of concern is 60% c) Score f Standard A2, B3 and F4 is 60% d) Individual standard wise score is 50 % |and e) Patient satisfaction score is 60% or 3.0 of Likert Scale.  To qualify for the NQAS Certification, UPHC Seikhazou had to undergo three levels of assessment – Internal Assessment, Peer Assessment and External Assessment. First External Assessment of UPHC Seikhazou was conducted from 15th to 16th January 2019 with overall score of 76.5%. Thereafter, State Internal Assessment was conducted from 13th June 2019 with overall score of 89.8% followed by External Assessment on 1st and 2nd August 2019 with overall score of 83.9%. Official Certification from the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare was on 19th October 2019.

(Mhonlumi & Esuihangle)