Question : SAFETY AND INFECTION CONTROL STANDARDS



(a) whether the Government has evolved a coherent and stringent patient safety and infection control standards for all hospitals in the country;

(b) if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether the Government has taken any corrective measures to expedite the process of getting all hospitals in India accredited with the National Accreditation Board for Hospitals and Healthcare Providers under the aegis of the Quality Council of India; and

(d) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

Answer given by the minister


THE MINISTER OF HEALTH & FAMILY WELFARE (SHRI GHULAM NABI AZAD)

(a) & (b): ‘Health’ is a State subject and it is the primary responsibility of the concerned State Government to take all necessary actions regarding patient safety and infection control standards of the hospitals in the State.

In so far as the three Central Government Hospitals in Delhi, namely Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital, Safdarjung Hospital and Lady Hardinge Medical College and its Associated hospitals are concerned, patient safety and infection control standards are followed and the details are as under:

# Infection Control committees and Patient Safety Committees have been constituted. The committees hold meetings at regular intervals to review the infection control and Patient Safety issues and take measures for improvement.

# Hand Hygiene is practiced as per prescribed guidelines.

# Surgical Safety in ward and Operation Theatre, patient safety evaluation, Patient Safety monitoring and Adverse Event reporting are being done.

# A standard “Do not Use” List from Joint commission listing symbols to be avoided while writing prescriptions is being used to prevent prescription reading mistakes.

# Trainings in Patient Safety including Hand hygiene, infection control and Bio-medical waste management are being regularly conducted for Doctors and other hospital Staff.

In addition, National Guidelines on Hospital waste Management based on Bio-medical waste (Management & Handling) Rules have been developed and distributed to all States/Union Territories in the year 2002 for implementation.

(c) and (d): Accreditation is voluntary at present in our country. With the increase in awareness on accreditation, more and more hospitals are coming forward to seek accreditation.