Maharashtra Sets Clear Service Standards For Government Hospitals To Improve Patient Care

Mumbai: Patients visiting Maharashtra government hospitals will now know what services they can expect at each level of the public health system. The state government has set clear standards for doctors, diagnostic tests, medicines, nursing staff, radiology and other facilities at rural, sub-district, district, general and women’s hospitals, based on their bed capacity.

Health Commissioner Assigned Responsibility To Implement New Norms

The new government resolution brings together various existing norms and directs hospital authorities to make every effort to provide the prescribed services. The Commissioner of Health Services will be responsible for implementing the standards.

According to the framework, 30-bed rural hospitals, 50- to 100-bed sub-district hospitals, 200-bed general hospitals, district hospitals and women’s hospitals will have specialist medical officers as per the prescribed staffing pattern. Separate specialist service norms have also been set for four psychiatric hospitals, four TB hospitals and referral service hospitals.

Separate Standards Set For Psychiatric And TB Hospitals

Hospitals will also have to ensure trained nursing staff and other professionals, including laboratory technicians, pharmacists, dietitians, optometrists, physiotherapists and radiology technicians. Additional manpower required for facilities such as Newborn Stabilisation Units (NBSUs), Special Newborn Care Units (SNCUs), CT scans and dialysis under the National Health Mission will also have to be provided.

As per Indian Public Health Standards (IPHS) 2022, 30-bed rural hospitals are expected to provide 74 types of diagnostic services, sub-district hospitals 111 and district, general and women’s hospitals 134.

Additional Staff Required For Advanced Healthcare Facilities

The government said rural hospitals currently offer 76 types of tests, while 100-bed sub-district hospitals provide 110 and district hospitals 122. Together, these three categories currently provide 308 types of diagnostic services.

X-ray and ultrasonography facilities are expected at all hospitals. CT scan facilities have been prescribed for 100-bed sub-district hospitals and larger facilities, while MRI is expected at district hospitals. The government said MRI is generally required at hospitals with more than 200 beds, though some 100-bed hospitals are also being equipped with the facility.

Existing Diagnostic Facilities Being Expanded Across Hospitals

The resolution also specifies essential medicine requirements—403 types at sub-district hospitals, 438 at district hospitals and 426 at referral service hospitals. These lists will be updated periodically according to government guidelines.

Blood banks are expected at district, referral service and women’s hospitals, while blood storage units will be available at women’s hospitals and first-referral sub-district hospitals.

All hospitals are expected to have laboratories, operation theatres, maternity, immunisation, postnatal care and post-mortem facilities. Dialysis services will be introduced in phases, while AYUSH services will be available at district hospitals and selected sub-district hospitals.

Every hospital will also have to maintain at least one ambulance and provide citizen services such as disability and medical fitness certificates, birth and death registration, Janani Suraksha Yojana benefits, dietary services and grievance facilities.

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