Healthcare to get a Uniform Code as Govt Issues Standard Protocols for 28 Specialties

For patients, the standards ensure consistent and reliable treatment regardless of the hospital they visit. For doctors, workflows provide a trusted, standardized protocol.

Hospitals have been asked to comply with uniform processes prescribed by the Union government for cardiology, pulmonology, dermatology, and other treatments, in a major push for standardizing healthcare across the country.

The Centre has notified 157 standard treatment workflows (STWs) to be followed by doctors. The National Medical Commission (NMC) has circulated the notice to hospitals and medical colleges to adopt the workflows, two health ministry officials said, requesting anonymity.

In the absence of such medical protocols in India, healthcare professionals have relied on a mix of personal expertise and guidelines from bodies such as NMC and the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), leading to inconsistencies in patient care.

For patients, the standards ensure consistent and reliable treatment regardless of the hospital they visit. For doctors, workflows provide a trusted, standardized protocol.

"Previously, doctors relied on varying guidelines and personal experience, leading to inconsistent patient outcomes. The STWs provide a concise, evidence-based road map to ensure clear, high-quality care for all," one of the two officials said.

Queries sent to the health ministry went unanswered. The workflows were formulated by the ICMR, the National Health Authority, and the World Health Organization, per the government's notice issued on 15 September.

"The ICMR has also initiated nationwide training sessions to ensure that doctors can effectively use and implement these new guidelines," the official said.

"The STWs cover 28 specialties and include specific guidance on common medical conditions. For example, the STW for heart failure from the cardiology domain outlines a standardized approach for a patient presenting with breathlessness," the official added.

The workflows provide a plan for stabilizing the patient, suggest routine investigations such as an ECG and chest X-ray, and recommend a treatment plan that includes specific medications along with oxygen therapy if needed.

ICMR's standard treatment workflow is a welcome step towards evidence-based uniformity in clinical practice, said Dr Naveen S. Tahasildar, consultant-spine surgeon, SPARSH Hospital, Bengaluru.

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