Embracing private hospitals, Kayakalp scheme to be part of Swachchta hi Sewa

New Delhi, September 20: Cleanliness has been termed as an important parameter of healthcare and keeping this perspective in mind, Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the Swachhta Abhiyaan Mission. Encouraged by the achievements of Kayakalp Scheme, National Accreditation Board for Hospitals & Healthcare Providers (NABH) has decided to consider the assessment of healthcare facilities in the private sector on the lines of parameters of Kayakalp Scheme.

To complement this effort, the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare has launched “Kayakalp” in the year 2015 with the initiative to recognize such efforts under ‘Swachh Bharat Abhiyaan’. With the above initiative, the Healthcare Facilities in the Public sector have been competing with each other to attain the highest levels of cleanliness and hygiene in their respective facilities.

This is also an initiative as part of the Swachchta hi Sewa cleanliness and sanitation campaign being undertaken across various parts of the country. By keeping cleanliness and hygiene in hospitals they not only are responsible for preventing infections but also provide patients and visitors with a positive experience and encourage molding behavior related to cleanliness and sanitation at their homes and work-place.

The public healthcare facilities have also given focused attention on promoting activities like Green Initiatives to reduce carbon footprint by encouraging Public Sector Hospitals to undertake Energy Conservation, Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) activities, horticulture & landscaping, optimal skill-based training of sanitation employees and capacity building, celebration of Swachhta Pakhwada, Swachhta hi Sewa Campaign across all the public sector healthcare facilities every year. The Health Ministry will recognize the outstanding work done by the private hospitals on an annual basis.

The initiative has resulted in bringing significant improvement in the sanitation and hygiene, patient satisfaction, behavioral change in the staff & employees of the Hospitals and Institutions, patients and their attendants towards cleanliness. Public perception towards cleanliness & hygiene in public healthcare facilities has also been changing.