In order to improve healthcare practices across five important specialties—cardiothoracic vascular surgery, pediatric cardiology, interventional radiology, neurosurgery, and orthopaedics—the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) recently launched 32 new Standard Treatment Workflows (STWs). These collaborations were made possible through the support of WHO India and the National Health Authority (NHA). The 125 STWs that were first published in 2019 and 2022 are expanded upon by this project, which was unveiled on Thursday. Its goal is to enhance medical treatment in India by providing more evidence-based standards.
The purpose of these recently introduced STWs is to ensure consistency and high-quality patient care by standardizing treatment protocols for common and dangerous diseases. Every STW is a succinct, one-page document that provides clinicians with critical principles and actions to promote best practices for treatment and responsible medication use. By eliminating differences in medical practices and enhancing overall healthcare delivery, the objective is to establish a uniform standard throughout India’s public healthcare system.
NITI Aayog member Prof. Vinod Kumar Paul underlined the significance of these STWs in establishing a resilient future for the Indian healthcare industry. He characterized the STWs as revolutionary instruments that ensure precise and efficient patient care while assisting medical practitioners in following defined protocols. These processes promote the provision of high-quality care and improve the dependability of medical practices by standardizing treatment regimens.
The Director General of the ICMR and Secretary of the Department of Health Research (DHR), Dr. Rajiv Bahl, emphasized the vital role that established protocols play in preserving lives and raising the level of treatment. In order to provide future healthcare professionals with a stronger foundation, he emphasized the importance of incorporating these workflows into medical education. In order to guarantee their widespread adoption and execution, the protocols will also be distributed to medical facilities, professional associations, and health insurance companies.
The CEO of NHA, Deepti Gaur Mukerjee, stated that the partnership with ICMR intends to increase the scope of specializations that STWs cover. In the future, efforts will concentrate on implementing recommendations related to plastic surgery, burn treatment, and polytrauma. This is indicative of a dedication to consistently improving patient care in a variety of medical specialties.
Senior Deputy Director General of ICMR Dr. Ashoo Grover noted that STWs support doctors in providing individualized care and fostering public trust in the healthcare system. Through these workflows, the ICMR is committed to developing standardized, evidence-based treatment and making sure that patients across always have access to high-quality care.
With the addition of these 32 new STWs, India’s healthcare system is becoming more standardized, which will raise the standard and consistency of treatment provided to all citizens.
SOURCE:
ECONOMIC TIMES
