NITI Aayog Calls for Uniform Patient Safety Standards Across Indian Hospitals

NEW DELHI, Oct 28: NITI Aayog member Dr M Srinivas has called for minimum patient safety and quality standards across Indian hospitals, stressing that the country’s healthcare system must combine medical excellence with affordability, accessibility and reliable treatment.

Speaking at the 20th edition of FICCI HEAL 2026, held in New Delhi on October 27, Srinivas said every hospital should meet a basic standard of quality and safety, regardless of whether it operates in the public or private sector.

The conference, organised around the theme “HEAL@20: From Vision to Value”, brought together healthcare policymakers, industry representatives and medical experts to discuss the future of India’s health system.

Srinivas, a former director of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Delhi, said the country needed a healthcare framework in which patients could expect dependable standards of care across institutions. He emphasised that improving treatment outcomes should remain a priority alongside expanding infrastructure and adopting new technologies.

His remarks come as India seeks to strengthen its healthcare capacity, improve access to specialised services and use digital systems to support more coordinated delivery of care.

Patient safety must become a basic requirement

Srinivas argued that minimum quality and safety standards should apply across the hospital sector. Such benchmarks would help establish a common foundation for patient care and strengthen confidence in healthcare institutions.

The issue extends beyond the availability of doctors, hospital beds and advanced equipment. Patient safety also depends on reliable clinical procedures, infection prevention, appropriate medication practices, trained healthcare workers and effective emergency response systems.

Hospitals must also be able to identify risks, document adverse incidents and use the findings to improve clinical practices. Consistent quality monitoring can help institutions recognise shortcomings and reduce avoidable harm.

India’s healthcare system includes large public hospitals, private corporate institutions, charitable facilities and smaller nursing homes. Their resources and service capabilities can vary widely, making consistent standards an important consideration for patients seeking treatment in different locations.

However, establishing benchmarks is only one part of the challenge. Effective implementation requires clear requirements, trained staff, regular assessments and appropriate action when standards are not met.

The discussion at FICCI HEAL highlighted the importance of evaluating healthcare institutions not merely by their infrastructure or reputation, but also by their ability to provide safe, timely and effective treatment.

Digital health records could improve coordination

Srinivas also highlighted the potential of India’s digital health infrastructure, particularly the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM), to improve healthcare delivery.

The mission seeks to support the development of a connected digital health ecosystem, including the use of Ayushman Bharat Health Account (ABHA) identifiers and electronic health records.

Interoperable systems could make it easier for authorised healthcare providers to access relevant patient information across participating institutions, subject to applicable consent and data-protection safeguards.

For patients who consult multiple specialists or move between hospitals, better information sharing could reduce the need to repeatedly provide medical histories, test results and treatment details. It could also help clinicians make more informed decisions when reliable records are available.

Digital records may support continuity of care, reduce duplication of diagnostic tests and improve the coordination of treatment. At a broader level, properly governed health data can assist researchers and policymakers in identifying disease trends and evaluating healthcare needs.

Srinivas said structured data developed through the National Health Authority could create opportunities to use artificial intelligence (AI) for better healthcare outcomes in India and other developing regions.

AI applications may eventually assist with clinical decision support, medical research, resource planning and the identification of patterns in health information. However, their effectiveness depends on the quality, accuracy and representativeness of the underlying data.

Digital systems also require safeguards against unauthorised access, data breaches and inappropriate use of sensitive medical information. Hospitals must ensure that technological innovation supports clinical judgment rather than replacing professional responsibility.

Reliable connectivity, staff training and compatibility between different systems will also be essential if digital health infrastructure is to benefit patients beyond major urban centres.

Affordable treatment remains a major concern

Another important issue raised at the conference was the unequal distribution of healthcare services across India.

Srinivas urged private hospitals to participate in universal health coverage efforts and expand affordable services in tier-2 and tier-3 cities. He argued that patients should not have to depend on major metropolitan centres for every specialised medical service.

For people living in smaller towns, accessing treatment in a large city can involve significant additional expenses. Transport, accommodation, missed workdays and repeated follow-up visits may increase the overall financial burden on families.

These costs can be particularly challenging for patients who require regular treatment for chronic conditions, cancer, kidney disease or other illnesses requiring specialist supervision.

Expanding quality services closer to where people live could help reduce these burdens and improve continuity of care. Earlier access to diagnostic services and specialist consultations may also help patients receive appropriate treatment before their conditions become more complicated.

However, expanding healthcare in smaller cities requires sustained investment in medical infrastructure, diagnostic facilities, trained personnel and reliable supply chains. Hospitals must also establish referral arrangements with larger institutions so patients can access advanced treatment when necessary.

Private-sector participation could help widen the availability of services, but affordability must remain central to planning. Simply increasing the number of facilities will not necessarily improve access if treatment remains beyond the financial reach of many households.

Srinivas called for private hospitals to extend affordable care beyond major urban centres and engage more actively with universal health coverage initiatives.

Health coverage and financial protection

Financial protection is another central element of India’s healthcare policy.

Srinivas stressed the importance of ensuring that patients receive the right treatment at the right time without facing unnecessary financial hardship. This objective is closely linked to the Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY), which provides eligible beneficiaries with health coverage for specified hospitalisation expenses.

Such schemes can help reduce the direct cost of eligible hospital treatment for covered families. Their effectiveness, however, also depends on awareness, access to empanelled hospitals, the availability of appropriate services and the smooth processing of claims.

Patients may continue to face indirect expenses, including travel, accommodation, medicines or services not covered by a particular benefit. These factors underline the importance of transparent billing, clear communication and patient-friendly hospital administration.

Healthcare providers must also ensure that people understand their treatment options, likely expenses and follow-up requirements. Better communication can help patients make informed decisions and reduce confusion during stressful medical situations.

The wider goal is to build a system in which access to safe treatment does not depend excessively on a patient’s income or place of residence.

Greater focus needed on disease prevention

Srinivas also highlighted the need to strengthen preventive healthcare, particularly as non-communicable diseases continue to place pressure on medical services.

Conditions such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease and chronic respiratory illnesses often require long-term management. When risk factors are not identified early, patients may eventually need more complex treatment and hospital care.

Preventive measures include screening, timely diagnosis, health education and support for healthier lifestyles. Regular follow-up and effective management of diagnosed conditions can help reduce complications and improve quality of life.

Primary healthcare facilities have an important role in this approach because they are often the first point of contact for patients. Strengthening their capacity can help identify health risks earlier and reduce unnecessary pressure on tertiary hospitals.

Public awareness campaigns, accessible diagnostic services and coordinated follow-up systems can support this shift towards prevention.

Srinivas’s remarks suggest that India’s healthcare priorities must extend beyond building advanced hospitals to creating a stronger continuum of care, from prevention and early diagnosis to specialist treatment and rehabilitation.

Healthcare industry stresses access, trust and innovation

Other participants at FICCI HEAL 2026 also emphasised the need to balance technological progress with affordability and patient confidence.

Dr Ashutosh Raghuvanshi, chair of the FICCI Health Services Committee and managing director and chief executive officer of Fortis Healthcare, said the sector would need sustained investment, improved prevention and early diagnosis, a skilled workforce and closer cooperation between public and private providers.

Dr Kenji Shibuya, chief executive officer of Medical Excellence JAPAN, highlighted opportunities for India and Japan to collaborate in healthcare and medical innovation. He also referred to India’s ambition to strengthen its position as a destination for healthcare services.

Anuj Pasrija, country lead for Johnson & Johnson MedTech India and vice-president for surgery at Johnson & Johnson, emphasised the importance of maintaining connections with patients throughout their healthcare journey.

These perspectives reflect a broader shift in how healthcare systems are evaluated. Hospitals are increasingly expected to provide not only specialised procedures but also coordinated care, reliable communication, reasonable costs and support after treatment.

Implementation will determine the impact

India’s efforts to strengthen patient safety and digital healthcare will require coordination among government agencies, hospitals, technology providers and healthcare professionals.

Common safety benchmarks could help establish consistent expectations, while digital records may improve the availability of relevant patient information. Expanded services in smaller cities could also make treatment more accessible to underserved populations.

However, the benefits will depend on implementation. Hospitals need adequate staffing, training, infrastructure and monitoring systems, while digital platforms require interoperability, strong privacy safeguards and reliable data.

Healthcare policy must also account for the needs of patients who have limited access to technology or cannot easily travel to larger medical centres.

The discussion at FICCI HEAL 2026 underscored the importance of putting patients at the centre of healthcare reform. For India, the challenge is to ensure that advances in medical technology and hospital capacity translate into measurable improvements in safety, affordability and treatment outcomes.

Establishing dependable minimum standards across hospitals, strengthening preventive care and expanding access to quality services could help build a more equitable healthcare system in the years ahead.