Gandhinagar: District health authorities in Gujarat will be subject to a stricter accountability framework for sterilization-related deaths, complications and failures, with the state govt mandating time-bound reporting, medical audits and corrective action under a revamped quality assurance system.Through a notification issued on Oct 15, govt has reconstituted state and district-level Quality Assurance Committees (QACs). Under the revised framework, district committees will be required to report major discrepancies in sterilization programmes and other healthcare delivery systems to the state panel. In the event of a sterilization-related death, district authorities must inform the state-level family planning indemnity subcommittee within 24 hours and conduct a mandatory death audit.The State Quality Assurance Committee (SQAC) will function as the apex policy-making body for quality assurance initiatives and will be responsible for overseeing their implementation, outcomes and shortcomings. Chaired by a senior official of the health and family welfare department, it will guide, monitor and review quality improvement efforts across districts.District committees will also be tasked with reviewing hospitalization cases arising from sterilization complications and failures, assessing service quality at govt and accredited private health facilities, and recommending corrective measures where standards are not met.The revised framework replaces earlier govt resolutions issued in 2007, 2008 and 2014. According to the notification, the restructuring was undertaken in line with the Centre’s revised operational guidelines aimed at improving quality standards in public healthcare facilities.
About The Author
