Better quality of care (QoC) at primary health care facilities is essential for India to achieve Universal Health Coverage . Over the past decade, several national quality initiatives including the National Quality Assurance Standards (NQAS), Kayakalp, and Labour room quality improvement initiative (LaQshya) have been launched to standardize and elevate quality in healthcare delivery. Yet, implementation of the quality initiatives remains challenging especially in resource limited geographies and at peripheral health facilities. Kalahandi, a tribal and historically underserved district in Odisha , has made exceptional progress in enhancing quality certification of its primary health care facilities(Sub-Health Centres and Primary Health Centres). In 2022-23, Kalahandi had only 27% (18 facilities) primary health care facilities NQAS certified, which increased to 61% (81 facilities) in 2023–24. The number of certifications quadrupled (from 18 to 81), making it one of the best performing districts in NQAS certification in the state.
IPSI support has played a crucial role by providing technical support to the District QA cell in increasing the number of NQAS certified facilities in Kalahandi, as depicted in the table below.
| Healthcare Facilities | Total numbers | Target for December 2025 (50%) | National NQAS
Certification (Till date) |
% | State NQAS
Certification (Till date) |
% | Total (National & State) | % | Pending out of Total Facilities | % |
| DHH | 1 | 1 | 1 | 100% | NA | NA | 1 | 100% | 0 | 0% |
| SDH | 1 | 0 | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | 1 | 100% |
| CHCs | 17 | 8 | 0 | 0% | 0 | 0% | 0 | 0% | 17 | 100% |
| AAM-PHCs | 45 | 22 | 5 | 23% | 2 | 0% | 7 | 31% | 38 | 84% |
| AAM-UPHC | 1 | 1 | 1 | 100% | NA | NA | 1 | 100% | 0 | 0% |
| AAM-SCs | 199 | 100 | 85 | 85% | 40 | 40% | 125 | 125% | 74 | 37% |
| Total | 264 | 132 | 92 | 69% | 42 | 21% | 134 | 101% | 130 | 49% |
In the last project phase , IPSI will support 51 facilities to undergo NQAS national assessment.
- 42 state certified facilities (AAM-SC: 40, AAM-PHC:2)
- 13 AAM SCs which were certified with conditionality
- 3 AAM SC which were deferred certification
- 2 PHCs for reassessment as these are completing 3 years of NQAS certification
