Introduction to Clinical Governance and Minimum Service Delivery Standards
The IHRA Directorate of Clinical Governance is responsible for developing Healthcare Minimum Service Delivery Standards (MSDS) for all categories of Healthcare Establishments (HCEs). The level of standards ranges from minimum to that of highest quality care, keeping in view the local context and the ground realities.Alongside, shoulders the responsibility of developing related rules, regulations and reference materials covering guidelines to facilitate successful implementation of these standards by the HCEs.
Clinical Governance is a structured approach that ensures organizations remain accountable for consistently enhancing the quality of their services and upholding high standards of care. It promotes a culture and environment where excellence in clinical practice can prosper.
In addition, the guidance material and tools to facilitate the IHRA Inspection Teams for assessment of implementation level and to facilitate decision making at IHRA for issuance of Registration or license and provide necessary guidance to the HCEs to improvement of healthcare delivery services.
Key Functional Areas for Ensuring Quality
The Minimum Service Delivery Standards (MSDS) encompass the following functional areas to ensure the delivery of quality healthcare services:
- Access, Assessment and Continuity of Care (AAC)
- Care of Patients (COP)
- Management of Medication (MOM)
- Health Education & Prevention (HEP)
- Infection Prevention & Control (IPC)
- Patient & Family Rights (PFR)
- Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI)
- Responsibilities of Management (ROM)
- Facility Management and Safety (FMS)
- Human Resource Management (HRM)
- Information Management System (IMS)
- Quality Assurance and Patient Safety (QA & PS)
Categories of Healthcare Establishments (HCEs)
Category I HCEs – Hospitals having 50 or more beds.
Category II HCEs – Hospitals having bed strength from 1 to 49 Beds Subcategorized as:
- Cat II A (31 – 49 Beds)
- Cat II B (16- 30 Beds)
- Cat II C (up to 15 Beds)
- Rural Health Centres (RHCs)
Category III HCEs
- Basic Health Units (BHUs)
- GP Clinics/ Family Physicians
- Dental Clinics
- Homoeopaths
- Matabs
- Laboratories
- Imaging/ Radiological Diagnostics
Process for Developing MSDS
The Directorate of Clinical Governance adopts an internationally recognized framework to define Minimum Service Delivery Standards (MSDS) for all Healthcare Establishments (HCEs) . This methodology involves a comprehensive review of national and international best practices, consultations with key informants, on-site assessments of HCEs to evaluate ground realities, and wide-ranging engagement with leading professionals in the field, followed by a multi-tier scrutiny process.
Once the draft MSDS has undergone rigorous review by IHRA experts across all directorates and relevant stakeholders, it is presented in formal consultative workshops. Feedback gathered through these workshops is incorporated into the drafts, which are then reviewed by IHRA’s Healthcare & Clinical Governance Committee (HCGC).
Following endorsement by the (HCGC), the drafts are submitted to the Board of Authority for approval notification, after which they become applicable for implementation by HCEs.
Reference Manual on Minimum Service Delivery Standards (MSDS)
IHRA - Standards for Hospitals
This IHRA Standards prescribe the service management and service provision standards for hospitals. These standards provide the basis for organizational assessment of the delivery of quality patient care and services, and utilization of available resources.
IHRA - Minimum Service Delivery Standards (MSDS) for General Practitioners and Specialty Consultant Clinics
This IHRA Standards prescribe the service management and service provision standards for hospitals. These standards provide the basis for organizational assessment of the delivery of quality patient care and services, and utilization of available resources.
IHRA - Minimum Service Delivery Standards (MSDS) for Clinical and Diagnostic Laboratories
This IHRA Standards prescribe the service management and service provision standards for hospitals. These standards provide the basis for organizational assessment of the delivery of quality patient care and services, and utilization of available resources.
IHRA - MSDS for Dental Clinics
This IHRA Standards prescribe the service management and service provision standards for hospitals. These standards provide the basis for organizational assessment of the delivery of quality patient care and services, and utilization of available resources.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is MSDS?
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Mon – Fri: 8:30 am – 4:30 pm