Health min to roll out award from cleanest medical facilities

In a move to push the goal of Swachh Bharat Abhiyaan, the Union Health Ministry is set to roll out an award to recognise hospitals that demonstrate high levels of cleanliness, hygiene and infection control.
"Awards would be given to the best two district hospitals in each state, one community health centre and a primary health centre in every district. The awards will come with a cash prize," a senior health ministry official said of the initiative, which would be launched on May 15 as part of the National Health Mission (NHM).
"The awards would be distributed based on the performance on various parameters, including hospital upkeep (pest and animal control, infrastructure maintenance), sanitation and hygiene (clean toilets, wards), waste management (disposal of biomedical waste) and infection control, besides support services (kitchen and laundry) and hygiene promotion," the official added.

The health ministry has planned to give out the awards on the occasion of the Mahatma Gandhi's birth anniversary on October 2, the date on which Prime Minister Narendra Modi had last year launched the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan.
"Public healthcare facilities are a major mechanism of social protection to meet the healthcare needs of large segments of the population.
"Cleanliness and hygiene in hospitals is critical for preventing infection and to provide patients and visitors with a positive experience. The aim is to promote cleanliness, hygiene and infection-control practices at public healthcare facilities," the official said.
"The initiative aims to encourage healthy competition among institutions for providing the best healthcare facilities and cleanliness, which would in turn benefit the public," he added.

The award would inspire healthcare institutions to adhere to standard protocols of cleanliness and infection control, he said.