National Quality Certification
Shillong, May 9: In a significant milestone for healthcare in Meghalaya, four public health facilities have been granted ‘Quality Certification’ under the National Quality Assurance Standards (NQAS) by the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India.
The certified centres are AAM Sub Health Centres (SHCs) in Bolchugre and Waram Songma (both in West Garo Hills), Phlangdiloin (South West Khasi Hills), and Umsong (Ri Bhoi). These facilities underwent rigorous external assessments in April 2025 and were found to have met all certification criteria across seven mandatory service packages.
According to the National Health Systems Resource Centre, Bolchugre and Waram Songma scored 92.15% and 92.73% respectively, making them the first Health and Wellness Centres (HWCs) in the Garo Hills region to receive national certification under NQAS. Phlangdiloin scored 91.28% while Umsong received a commendable 83.53%.
Dr. Jacob Marak, District Nodal Officer (Quality), hailed the certification as a transformative step in enhancing healthcare delivery. “We take a moment to celebrate the impact of NQAS in elevating care standards across our HWCs. This achievement honours the dedication of our healthcare teams in ensuring quality, equity, and accountability in public health,” he said.
The NQAS framework sets high benchmarks in patient safety, clinical procedures, infrastructure, and patient satisfaction, encouraging facilities to strive for continuous improvement. The certified facilities are now expected to work on recommended improvements and submit action plans to the State Quality Assurance Unit.
