J&K Health facilities on track for NQAS Certification by 2026

Srinagar, Sept 19: By 2026, all public health facilities in Jammu and Kashmir are set to achieve National Quality Assurance Standards (NQAS) certification, with ongoing efforts to ensure national recognition. This initiative follows recommendations from the 3rd National Conference of Chief Secretaries, held from December 27 to 29, 2023.
In a recent communication from the National Health Mission (NHM) J&K to Chief Medical Officers and District Health Societies, it was outlined that 50 percent of public health facilities are expected to be certified by December 2025, with a target of 100 percent certification by December 2026.
The communication also referenced a review meeting conducted by the NHSRC and the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on July 4, 2024, where health officers were instructed to provide district-wise and quarterly targets for NQAS certification.
Nazim Zai Khan, Mission Director of NHM J&K, stated, “We are actively working to achieve national certification for public health facilities. This year, we have already certified 24 health facilities across Jammu and Kashmir, and we aim to address all remaining gaps.”
Khan highlighted that there are multi-dimensional challenges, but the NHM is committed to meeting its targets. “Our goal is to maximize health facilities for national quality certification. The NQAS program has been instrumental in identifying and addressing gaps within hospitals,” he added.
Health officials noted that NQAS have been developed with specific requirements for public health facilities, drawing from global best practices. The standards are currently applicable to District Hospitals, Community Health Centers (CHCs), Primary Health Centers (PHCs), and Urban PHCs. They serve as a self-assessment tool for providers to enhance quality through predefined benchmarks.
NQAS are structured around eight “Areas of Concern”: Service Provision, Patient Rights, Inputs, Support Services, Clinical Care, Infection Control, Quality Management, and Outcome. These standards are accredited by the International Society for Quality in Health Care (ISQUA) and align with global benchmarks for comprehensiveness and rigor in quality assurance.