In a significant milestone for India’s public healthcare system, over 50,000 public health facilities across the country have been certified under the National Quality Assurance Standards (NQAS), marking a transformative step toward ensuring quality, safe, and patient-centric healthcare for all citizens. The Union Health Ministry announced on Wednesday that, as of December 31, 2025, a total of 50,373 public health facilities across all states and Union Territories have achieved certification under the NQAS framework. This accomplishment represents not only a quantitative expansion of quality-assured healthcare but also a qualitative shift in the delivery of public health services across India.

The NQAS framework was introduced as a comprehensive quality assurance initiative with the aim of standardizing and improving the quality of public health facilities, particularly in district hospitals and primary healthcare settings. The standards focus on patient safety, service delivery, clinical and administrative management, infrastructure, human resources, and adherence to best practices, thereby creating a robust mechanism for evaluating and enhancing the performance of public healthcare institutions.

A Decade-Long Journey Toward Quality Healthcare

The journey of NQAS began in 2015 with just 10 certified healthcare facilities. Initially, the focus was on district hospitals, ensuring that these facilities could provide safe and patient-centric services. Over the years, the program expanded to include Sub-District Hospitals, Community Health Centres, Ayushman Arogya Mandirs, Primary Health Centres, Sub Health Centres, and urban healthcare facilities such as AAM–UPHCs. This systematic expansion reflects the government’s vision to institutionalize quality assurance across all levels of public healthcare delivery, from primary to secondary care.

According to the Ministry, the certified facilities now include 48,663 Ayushman Arogya Mandirs, which provide preventive, promotive, and curative services at the grassroots level, and 1,710 secondary care facilities, which provide more complex clinical interventions. The distribution demonstrates that quality standards are no longer confined to a handful of flagship institutions but have permeated the public health system at scale, reaching rural, semi-urban, and urban populations alike.

Rapid Expansion Through Innovation

The rapid growth in NQAS certification is closely linked to the adoption of virtual assessments, which allow facilities to be evaluated remotely, reducing logistical barriers and enabling faster coverage. This innovation has significantly accelerated the certification process, with certified facilities increasing from 6,506 in December 2023 to 22,786 in December 2024, and then to 50,373 by December 2025. Such exponential growth within just a year underscores the government’s commitment to institutionalizing quality and expanding access to high-standard healthcare across the country.

Virtual assessments include real-time evaluations of infrastructure, service delivery, record-keeping, and patient management. These assessments are complemented by on-site inspections, ensuring that facilities meet rigorous standards before certification is granted. By leveraging technology, the NQAS program has overcome challenges posed by geographical diversity, resource limitations, and workforce constraints, creating a replicable model for large-scale quality assurance.

Impact on Patient-Centered Care and Universal Health Coverage

The NQAS framework aligns closely with India’s broader pursuit of Universal Health Coverage (UHC), as articulated in the National Health Policy 2017. UHC emphasizes the provision of healthcare that is not only accessible and affordable but also of high quality, ensuring that patients receive safe, effective, and timely services without financial hardship. By certifying public health facilities under NQAS, India is moving closer to achieving this vision, particularly for vulnerable populations who rely heavily on government healthcare services.

Certified facilities are required to implement processes that prioritize patient safety, reduce medical errors, and enhance clinical outcomes. For example, NQAS mandates adherence to protocols for infection control, waste management, patient identification, and medication management. In addition, facilities are evaluated on patient satisfaction, grievance redressal mechanisms, and responsiveness to community health needs. Such measures ensure that quality healthcare is not just about infrastructure or equipment but also about delivering a positive patient experience and fostering trust in the public health system.

Sustainability and Institutionalization of Quality

The government has emphasized that NQAS certification is not a one-time achievement but a continuous process that requires ongoing monitoring, audits, and capacity building. Facilities are required to maintain standards even after certification, and periodic re-assessments ensure that quality is institutionalized rather than temporary. Training and capacity-building programs for healthcare workers, administrators, and technical staff are integral to this process, ensuring that personnel are equipped to uphold high standards of care.

Dr. Rajesh Bhushan, a senior official at the Health Ministry, noted that the expansion of NQAS certifications reflects the government’s commitment to embedding quality as an intrinsic and enduring attribute of public healthcare delivery. He emphasized that this approach not only improves clinical outcomes but also strengthens the public’s confidence in government health services, thereby increasing utilization and health-seeking behavior.

Looking Ahead: Interim Goals and Future Plans

While crossing the 50,000 mark is a notable achievement, the government has set an interim target of certifying at least 50 percent of all public healthcare facilities by March 2026. This ambitious goal underscores the administration’s determination to further consolidate gains and ensure that quality, safety, and patient-centered care become standard across the entire public health system.

The expansion plan includes additional support for infrastructure development, human resource training, and implementation of digital health solutions to streamline administrative processes and clinical documentation. The government also plans to integrate NQAS certification with other quality improvement initiatives, such as the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission and the Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana, creating a synergistic approach that enhances efficiency and accessibility across all levels of healthcare.

A Transformative Milestone for Public Health in India

Crossing the threshold of 50,000 certified public health facilities represents a transformative milestone in India’s healthcare journey. It signifies the institutionalization of quality standards at scale and demonstrates a strong commitment to patient safety, service excellence, and equity. For citizens, particularly those from marginalized and underserved communities, this achievement translates into access to care that is not only available but also trustworthy, safe, and effective.

Experts highlight that quality certification, when combined with capacity building and technological interventions, has the potential to reshape the public health landscape in India. It ensures that healthcare is not just reactive but proactive, anticipatory, and capable of addressing both routine and complex health needs. Furthermore, by promoting accountability and standardization, NQAS-certified facilities can serve as benchmarks for continuous improvement and innovation in public healthcare delivery.

Conclusion

The milestone of certifying more than 50,000 public health facilities under NQAS represents a significant leap toward achieving universal access to high-quality healthcare in India. The initiative not only enhances the capacity and capability of individual facilities but also strengthens the public health system as a whole. By combining technological innovation, rigorous standards, and patient-centered approaches, the government is paving the way for a resilient, efficient, and equitable healthcare system.

With the interim goal of certifying 50 percent of all public healthcare facilities by March 2026, India is poised to further institutionalize quality and ensure that every citizen, regardless of location or socio-economic status, can access safe, effective, and compassionate healthcare. This achievement underscores the government’s unwavering commitment to quality, safety, and patient-centered care, laying a strong foundation for the continued advancement of public health in India.

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