Shillong, October 17 : In a landmark achievement, ten public health facilities across Meghalaya have been awarded the National Quality Assurance Standards (NQAS) Certification, one of India’s most rigorous benchmarks for healthcare excellence. The recognition marks a defining moment in the State’s ongoing pursuit of quality-driven, patient-centric healthcare.
The certified facilities include Ganesh Das MCH Hospital, Shillong; Marngar PHC (Ri-Bhoi District); Siju PHC and Nongalbibra PHC (South Garo Hills); Pomlum PHC (East Khasi Hills); Asananggre PHC and Babadam PHC (West Garo Hills); Wagesi PHC and Gabil PHC (North Garo Hills); and Salmanpara PHC (South West Garo Hills).
Adding to this success, 91 Sub-Centres (SC HWCs-AAM) across Meghalaya have also received NQAS Certification. Furthermore, the Pasteur Institute–Central Laboratory and the State Food Testing Laboratory have previously earned NABL Accreditation, underscoring Meghalaya’s growing emphasis on strengthening quality standards across primary care, laboratory services, and community health.
This milestone is a testament to the collective dedication of medical officers, nurses, specialists, and frontline health workers who went beyond duty—often working extra hours—to ensure quality compliance and sustained improvement. Equally vital were the quality managers, who led the planning, training, and documentation processes while conducting gap-closure analyses that turned each facility into a model of continuous improvement.
At the heart of this transformation was the Joint Directorate Committee (JDC), which brought together the three Directorates—DHS (MI), DHS (MCH & FW), and DHS (ME & R)—to provide strategic direction through the Joint Directorate Quality Committee (JDQC). The JDQC spearheaded the quality movement with intensive trainings, gap-closure visits, and on-site mentoring sessions.
The initiative was further strengthened by partnerships with MMDSL and NHM, with financial and technical support from MHSSP and MHIS through the IPA programme. The District Quality Teams, Health Engineering Wing, and other allied units also played crucial roles in bridging infrastructure gaps and driving continuous improvement.
Among the achievers, Ganesh Das MCH Hospital, a high-volume maternal and child care facility, overcame operational challenges to become a model of structured, patient-focused service delivery. It not only earned NQAS Certification but also attained LaQshya and MusQan Quality Certifications for its Operation Theatre, Labour Room, Special Newborn Care Unit (SNCU), and Paediatric Care Services.
Rural and remote facilities—Marngar, Siju, Nongalbibra, Pomlum, Asananggre, Babadam, Wagesi, Salmanpara, and Gabil PHCs—demonstrated that with strong leadership, collaboration, and commitment, excellence is achievable even in the most geographically challenging areas.
Senior officials from the Health Department lauded the achievement, stating “Achieving NQAS is not merely about passing an assessment—it’s about transforming systems, attitudes, and outcomes. This milestone reflects the perseverance and passion of our healthcare teams, guided by the leadership of the Joint Directorate and supported by quality partners across all levels.”
As Meghalaya celebrates this historic accomplishment, the Health Department reaffirmed its commitment to expand the quality improvement journey to more health facilities—ensuring that every citizen, in every district, has access to safe, reliable, and nationally benchmarked healthcare services.
