A central team from National Health Systems Resource Centre (NHSRC) conducted surprise inspections at two primary health centers (PHCs) in Jabalpur district on Wednesday. The inspection was aimed at evaluating the sustained adherence to quality standards following prior certifications. The inspection was conducted at Boriya PHC in Patan block and Bhidki PHC in Shahpura block. These facilities were previously identified as top-performing centres in Jabalpur, having secured National Quality Assurance Standards (NQAS) certification for 2023-24 period. The specialised two-membered team comprised of Dr Chinmayi Swain from NHSRC, New Delhi and Dr Abhishek Singh from Uttar Pradesh. The surprise visit is a mandatory protocol established by Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. According to official guidelines, approximately 10% of NQAS-certified health facilities in India are subject to random audits to ensure that quality of medical services and operational procedures does not decline after initial certification is granted.

 

The district authorities were notified of inspection only on the morning of the visit. NHSRC officials spent the entire day reviewing facilities against comprehensive NQAS checklist, which covers patient care, clinical processes and administrative standards. The central team commended the efforts of local staff in maintaining high standards of patient care and functional efficiency. However, certain minor deficiencies were identified during the assessment. Local health officials have been instructed to rectify these gaps promptly to further enhance service delivery. Several high-ranking officials including Dr Sanjay Mishra, Chief Medical and Health Officer, Dr Adarsh Vishnoi (CBMO) and Dr Shikha Garg (District Quality Manager) were present during the proceedings. The district authorities confirmed that corrective measures have already been initiated to address the observations made by the New Delhi team.