Pdengshakap Primary Health Centre (PHC), West Jaintia Hills, celebrated the achievement of the prestigious National Quality Assurance Standards (NQAS) Certification at a function held at the PHC premises on Friday. The programme was attended by Cabinet Minister and local MLA Shri Lahkmen Rymbui, officials of the Health Department, district administration, community leaders, healthcare workers, ASHAs and members of Village Health Committees.
According to the NQAS assessment report, the PHC secured an overall health facility score of 91.56 per cent, successfully meeting the national certification criteria, while recording a Patient Satisfaction Score of 82.56 per cent, reflecting the quality of healthcare services being delivered to the people.
Addressing the gathering as the Chief Guest, Cabinet Minister and local MLA Shri Lahkmen Rymbui described the NQAS certification as a proud achievement for Pdengshakap PHC and the entire community. Congratulating the doctors, nurses, ANMs, ASHAs, Village Health Committees, Joint Action Committees and all healthcare workers, he said the recognition was the outcome of their dedication, teamwork and commitment to quality healthcare.
Emphasising that good health is the foundation of education, economic prosperity and overall human development, Shri Rymbui called upon the public to adopt preventive healthcare practices, reminding them that “prevention is better than cure.” He urged people to actively utilise the services available at PHCs and Sub-Centres, cooperate with government health programmes and ensure Aadhaar enrolment and access to government health insurance schemes so that eligible citizens can fully benefit from healthcare and other welfare initiatives. He further assured continued support from the Government towards strengthening healthcare infrastructure and improving medical services in the region.
A key highlight of the programme was the submission of a memorandum by the Medical Officer In-Charge, Pdengshakap PHC, to the local MLA seeking urgent intervention to address critical infrastructural and manpower requirements of the health centre. The memorandum sought the provision of an additional ambulance to ensure uninterrupted emergency referral services, improved internet connectivity to strengthen digital health services, deployment of additional nursing staff to address manpower shortages and sustain quality patient care, and posting of an additional Auxiliary Nurse Midwife (ANM) to support maternal and child healthcare, outreach activities, field surveys and community-based health services. The memorandum also appealed for the Government’s support in addressing these requirements to further strengthen healthcare delivery in the area.
Speaking on the occasion, Sub-Divisional Medical and Health Officer Dr. Shemphang Pohtam stated that the NQAS certification reflects the successful implementation of government health policies through transparency, teamwork and community ownership. He informed that West Jaintia Hills now has eight NQAS-certified health facilities, including four in Amlarem Block, and expressed confidence that more PHCs, CHCs and Sub-Centres would achieve certification by the end of 2026.
The Block Development Officer congratulated the healthcare team on the achievement and urged Village Health Committees, traditional institutions and community members to strengthen their partnership with the Health Department, particularly in preventive healthcare programmes, to ensure sustained quality healthcare services and improved public health outcomes.
Earlier, the Medical Officer In-Charge welcomed the gathering and reiterated the commitment of Pdengshakap PHC towards providing accessible, patient-centred and quality healthcare services. The programme concluded with a vote of thanks and a renewed commitment from all stakeholders to sustain the standards achieved under NQAS and continue improving healthcare services for the people of the region.
