Health Ministry Issues New Guidelines for Standards in Public Hospitals

The guidelines are applicable to major healthcare institutions such as AIIMS, PGIMER, and the JIPMER.

The Union Health Ministry has introduced comprehensive operational guidelines for elevating healthcare standards in public hospitals across the country.

These newly approved guidelines set forth minimum standards for both services and human resources, marking the first time that public hospitals are required to adhere to such uniform benchmarks.

One of the key elements of the guidelines is the mandate for hospitals to maintain adequate staffing levels.

This move aims to address the persistent problems of understaffing and resource shortages, particularly in rural and underserved areas.

The guidelines are applicable to major healthcare institutions such as the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), and the Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research (JIPMER).

The new standards classify patient care services into three categories that include vital, essential, and desirable.

'Vital' services, which are deemed critical for patient care, are mandatory across all facilities.

This stratification is intended to ensure a baseline level of care for all citizens and bring uniformity to the quality of healthcare services across different regions.

Sharing thoughts, Dinesh Kumar, Joint Director, the Union Health Ministry, said, “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.”

Moreover, the guidelines encourage hospitals to integrate digital health tools and establish patient feedback systems. These measures aim to streamline healthcare operations and make them more responsive to patient needs.

“This approach marks a shift in the government’s healthcare strategy, focusing not only on treatment but also on improving patient satisfaction,” said a senior official from the ministry.

Additionally, the government has also introduced a monitoring system.

Hospitals will now be required to report their adherence to the new standards and submit proposals for approval, especially when significant changes or additional funding are needed.

This system is expected to enhance accountability and standardize care across the country’s public healthcare institutions.

Last month, the Union Health Ministry called on all states to implement 157 Standard Treatment Workflows (STWs) across 28 medical specialties.

Developed by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), these STWs are designed to ensure uniform standards of care in hospitals and promote the rational use of essential drugs and diagnostics.