State willing, healthcare will get better

An accreditation from the Quality Council of India (QCI) would ensure quality care and expert medical staff for patients at the various civic hospitals.

It would also mean greater transparency in the services provided by the hospitals and, more importantly, in their tariffs and billing methods.

But the state has shown little willingness to get the accreditation, even as neighbouring states like Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh queue up before the QCI — the only board in India that has an accreditation programme for health care organisations.

The Gujarat government has allocated Rs32 crore to get seven of its public hospitals accredited.

In Maharashtra’s case, the talks with the QCI fizzled out after the initial rounds. “We are yet to see any enthusiasm from the government’s side,” Dr YP Bhatia, chairman, health care committee, QCI, said.

“Other state governments are also approaching us, as more and more consumers are becoming aware about accreditation and the credibility that comes with it,” he said.

In Maharashtra, only two departments of the state-run JJ Hospital — which will soon be upgraded to the level of AIIMS, New Delhi — have the ISO: 9001:2001
certification. The paediatric surgery department and the critical care unit of the hospital got the certification last year in their individual capacities.

The state government claims that its initiatives for the certification, although slow, have started to roll. “We do intend to take accreditation seriously,” Dr Prakash Doke, director, state health services, said.

“The government has already formed its own accreditation council. It will ensure quality in all registered health care centres, big or small,” he said.

But, the big question is: when will the council become functional? It has been more than a year since the council was formed, but it is yet to become operational.

Meanwhile, the QCI is in the process of finalising guidelines for accreditation of smaller nursing homes also.

Experts believe that accreditation will bring in more transparency in private and public hospitals.

“Private hospitals specially have to portray their services with clarity,” said Dr SKM Rao, principal assessor, National Accreditation Board for Hospitals and Health care Providers (NABH) wing of QCI.

“However, it should not be aimed at luring global patients seeking medical care in India,” he said.
d_sumitra@dnaindia.net