A First in Garo Hills

Babadam AAM-PHC Run by BAKDIL Awarded Prestigious NQAS Certification

West Garo Hills, July 27 – In a landmark achievement for Meghalaya’s healthcare sector, the Babadam Primary Health Centre (PHC), operated by BAKDIL in collaboration with the Government of Meghalaya under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model, has been awarded the prestigious National Quality Assurance Standards (NQAS) certification by the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. This recognition marks a historic first, as Babadam PHC becomes the first Primary Health Centre in the entire Garo Hills region to receive this certification.

The NQAS certification, developed by the National Health Systems Resource Centre (NHSRC) under the Quality Council of India (QCI), assesses public health facilities across India on rigorous parameters, including patient care, infection control, infrastructure, cleanliness, and service delivery.

With unwavering dedication and meticulous efforts, the Babadam PHC team not only met all stringent certification criteria but also secured an exceptional score of 91.09%—setting a new benchmark for quality healthcare delivery in Meghalaya.

Reflecting on the achievement, Sr Riya, Health Programme Manager at Babadam PHC, said, “This recognition is the result of God’s blessing, hard work, and the unwavering dedication of our entire team. We’ve worked together to create a clean, patient-friendly, and efficient healthcare environment. Receiving the NQAS certification has motivated us to continue raising the standards of care for our community.”

She further emphasized the significance of being part of the Internal Performance Agreement (IPA) initiative: “As an IPA facility, we’ve had the flexibility to plan based on local needs, engage more closely with the community, and strengthen staff accountability. That has made a real difference in how we deliver healthcare every day.”

Babadam PHC is one of 122 facilities under the IPA model, an innovative, results-based financing approach within the Meghalaya Health Systems Strengthening Project (MHSSP), supported by the World Bank. Facilities are assessed based on predefined performance indicators, and those achieving higher scores become eligible for additional funding, capacity building, and technical support—encouraging continuous quality improvement.

The certification success is the outcome of months of capacity building, rigorous internal assessments, and a collective commitment to improvement by the PHC team. Critical support was extended by the Joint Directorate Quality Committee (JDQC), the District Medical and Health Officer (DM&HO), West Garo Hills, the MHSSP, and the National Health Mission (NHM), who provided mentorship, monitoring, and technical guidance throughout the process.

This achievement is not only a testament to the dedication of BAKDIL and its healthcare workers but also a shining example of the potential of the PPP model in enhancing public health outcomes. Even in one of the most remote and underserved regions of the state, quality, patient-centred healthcare can be delivered through collaborative planning, committed leadership, and strong community engagement.

Babadam PHC’s milestone achievement now serves as an inspiration for other PHCs across Meghalaya to aim for similar excellence, strengthening the overall health system and ensuring better healthcare for all.