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India Hits 50,000+ NQAS-Certified Health Facilities, Boosting Public Healthcare

India's public healthcare system has reached a historic milestone with over 50,000 facilities now certified under the National Quality Assurance Standards. The achievement marks a massive scale-up from just 10 certified facilities when the program launched in 2015. The rapid expansion, especially in the last two years, has been driven by digital innovations and a focus on primary care through Ayushman Arogya Mandirs. This milestone supports India's Universal Health Coverage goals and the government has set a new target to certify 50% of all public health facilities by March 2026.

Key Points: India Surpasses 50,000 NQAS-Certified Public Health Facilities

  • Over 50,000 facilities certified
  • Rapid scale-up in last two years
  • 48,663 are primary care centres
  • Aligns with Universal Health Coverage goals
2 min read

India surpasses 50,000 NQAS-certified public health facilities, marking major boost to healthcare quality

India achieves a historic milestone with over 50,000 public health facilities now NQAS-certified, marking a major leap in healthcare quality and access.

"a reflection of the principles of Aatmanirbhar Bharat and 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas, Sabka Prayaas' - Government statement"

New Delhi, January 7

India's public healthcare system has reached a historic milestone with more than 50,000 health facilities receiving certification under the National Quality Assurance Standards, underscoring the government's push towards quality, safety and patient-centred care.

According to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW), a total of 50,373 public health facilities across all States and Union Territories stood NQAS-certified as of December 31, 2025.

The achievement marks a significant leap in institutionalising quality across India's public healthcare network, particularly benefiting poor, vulnerable and marginalised communities.

Launched in 2015 with just 10 certified facilities, the NQAS programme initially focused on District Hospitals. Over the years, it has expanded to cover Sub-District Hospitals, Community Health Centres (CHCs), and Ayushman Arogya Mandirs, including Primary Health Centres (PHCs), Urban PHCs (UPHCs) and Sub-Health Centres (SHCs), enabling quality assurance across all levels of care.

The scale-up has been especially rapid in the past two years, driven by digital innovations such as virtual assessments, expanded assessor capacity, and continuous quality improvement initiatives. Certified facilities rose from 6,506 in December 2023 to 22,786 in December 2024, before more than doubling to 50,373 by December 2025.

Of the total certified facilities, 48,663 are Ayushman Arogya Mandirs at the primary care level, while 1,710 are secondary care facilities, including CHCs, Sub-District Hospitals and District Hospitals. Officials said this reflects the deepening integration of quality standards across the healthcare delivery system.

The milestone aligns with India's Universal Health Coverage (UHC) goals outlined in the National Health Policy 2017, which emphasises accessible, affordable and quality healthcare without financial hardship. The government described the achievement as a reflection of the principles of Aatmanirbhar Bharat and "Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas, Sabka Prayaas".

The Centre has reiterated its commitment to sustaining momentum and set an interim target to achieve NQAS certification for at least 50% of all public healthcare facilities by March 2026, further strengthening quality, safety, and patient trust in the public health system.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

R
Rohit P
A great achievement on paper, no doubt. But the real test is on the ground. Certification is one thing, but do these facilities have adequate medicines and staff consistently? In my district, the CHC is certified but we still face doctor shortages. Quality must mean reliable service, not just a plaque on the wall.
A
Aditya G
The focus on primary care (Ayushman Arogya Mandirs) is the key here. Strengthening the base will reduce unnecessary burden on city hospitals. My mother's blood pressure is now monitored regularly at our SHC. It's a relief not to travel 50km for basic check-ups. Jai Hind!
S
Sarah B
As someone who has worked in public health, scaling from 10 to 50,000 facilities in a decade is impressive. The use of virtual assessments is a smart move for a country of India's size. Hope this model of digital governance is replicated in other sectors.
K
Karthik V
Good step towards 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas'. But the next target should be 100% certification. Why only 50% by 2026? Every citizen, especially in villages, deserves quality healthcare. The government should aim higher and faster.
M
Meera T
This is heartening. For years, we only heard about problems in government hospitals. Now there's a structured effort to improve. My sister delivered her baby at an NQAS-certified district hospital and had a very positive experience. More power to our healthcare workers! 🙏

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