The Government of India has achieved a major milestone in strengthening the quality of public healthcare services. As of 31 December 2025, 50,373 public health facilities across all States and Union Territories have received certification under the National Quality Assurance Standards (NQAS), the flagship quality framework of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW).
Reinforcing Commitment to Quality and Patient-Centred Care
Crossing the 50,000 mark represents a proud moment for India’s public health system. It underscores the government’s sustained commitment to quality, safety, and patient-centred care, while advancing equitable access to reliable healthcare services for all citizens—especially the poor, vulnerable, and marginalised.
From a Pilot Initiative to a Nationwide Quality Framework
As reported by pib.gov.in, the NQAS programme began in 2015 with just 10 certified facilities, initially focusing on District Hospitals. Over time, the government systematically expanded the framework to include Sub-District Hospitals, Community Health Centres, Ayushman Arogya Mandir–PHCs, AAM–UPHCs, and AAM–Sub Health Centres, thereby embedding quality assurance across every level of public healthcare delivery.
Virtual Assessments Drive Rapid Scale-Up
The introduction of Virtual Assessments significantly accelerated NQAS certification nationwide. As a result, the number of certified facilities rose sharply—from 6,506 in December 2023 to 22,786 in December 2024, and further to 50,373 by December 2025. This rapid expansion within a single year highlights the effectiveness of technology-enabled quality assurance.
Of the total certified facilities, 48,663 are Ayushman Arogya Mandirs (Sub Health Centres, PHCs, and UPHCs), while 1,710 are secondary care facilities including CHCs, SDHs, and District Hospitals. Together, these numbers reflect the deep institutionalisation of quality standards across India’s public health system.
Supporting Universal Health Coverage Goals
India’s pursuit of Universal Health Coverage (UHC), guided by the National Health Policy 2017, prioritises access to affordable, quality healthcare without financial hardship. The rapid expansion of NQAS certification reflects the adoption of multi-pronged acceleration strategies, including continuous capacity building, digital innovations, a significantly expanded pool of assessors, and robust continuous quality improvement mechanisms.
A Milestone in Building a Resilient Health System
Crossing 50,000 NQAS-certified facilities stands as a testament to India’s collective resolve to build a resilient, self-reliant, and high-quality public healthcare system. The achievement embodies the vision of Aatmanirbhar Bharat and the principles of “Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas, Sabka Prayaas”, reaffirming that quality healthcare lies at the heart of national development.
Sustaining Momentum and Future Targets
Looking ahead, the Government of India remains committed to sustaining and expanding NQAS certification nationwide. As part of this effort, the country has set an interim target to achieve NQAS certification for at least 50% of public healthcare facilities by March 2026, further strengthening the institutionalisation of quality, safety, and patient-centred care at scale.