AP tops country in patient safety

Amaravati: Andhra Pradesh has secured the top position nationally in patient safety, recording a score of 86, according to the assessment presented by the Union Health Ministry at a national-level event in New Delhi on Thursday to mark World Patient Safety Day.

AP was followed by Madhya Pradesh with 84.5, Gujarat with 83.5, Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu with 83, and Tamil Nadu with 82. At the lower end, Bihar scored 61, Andaman & Nicobar Islands 49.5, Haryana 47, Himachal Pradesh 35 and Arunachal Pradesh 25.

The assessment covered 62 government hospitals in Andhra Pradesh, comprising 53 area hospitals and nine district hospitals. Patient-safety inspections were completed with 100 per cent coverage through a self-assessment process. District quality teams and the state quality division reviewed the findings and submitted a comprehensive report to the National Health Systems Resource Centre (NHSRC) on August 10. The state has also made progress under the National Quality Assurance Scheme (NQAS), which assesses government hospitals on quality of medical services, patient safety, hygiene and patient-centric care. NQAS certification coverage in AP has now reached 65 per cent.

The national event, organised under the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and the National Health Mission in collaboration with NHSRC, was held at the NIHFW Auditorium in New Delhi. The theme was ‘Safe Medical Care for Non-Communicable Diseases’, with discussions focusing on patient safety during diagnosis, treatment, medication, follow-up testing and monitoring of non-communicable diseases.

AP health and family welfare commissioner and NHM managing director K V N Chakradhar Babu virtually outlined the state’s implementation of NQAS and quality standards. State coordinator Nagalakshmi participated in person and took part in discussions on protocols for safe medical services and safety standards for managing non-communicable diseases.

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