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Guidelines for Hospitals
Context:
The central government has issued new guidelines for state-run hospitals to improve service quality due to increasing complaints about mismanagement.
Guidelines
- The guidelines include minimum staffing requirements based on bed count, better security measures, and allocating at least 20% of beds for daycare services.
- According to the National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5), the bed-to-population ratio in India is approximately 0.7 beds per 1,000 people which is well below the World Health Organisation’s recommended standard of 5 beds per 1,000 people.
- Hospitals must also set up Janaushadhi stores for affordable medicines, promote e-prescriptions, and establish grievance committees to address patient complaints.
- The number of registration counters should match the hospital’s size.
- While all central-run hospitals must follow the new guidelines, states can modify them based on each facility’s requirements.
- The guidelines also emphasise the need for proper maintenance of medical equipment and facilities, as well as regular training for staff to ensure they are up-to-date with the latest medical practices.
- Hospitals must also establish a system for monitoring and evaluating the quality of services provided, with regular feedback from patients and their families.
- In addition, the guidelines recommend that hospitals promote research and academic activities to encourage continuous learning and improvement among healthcare professionals.
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