A Baseline Assessment of National Health Program Quality in Urban Primary Healthcare Centers in Berhampur, Odisha.

INTRODUCTION

Quality healthcare underpins effective service delivery and positive health outcomes, yet many health systems worldwide grapple with infrastructure deficits and inequitable access. In India, urban primary healthcare centers (UPHCs) frequently struggle to deliver consistent quality, and Berhampur, Odisha, is no exception: workforce shortages and limited health infrastructure continue despite government initiatives. A thorough baseline assessment of the quality of National Health Programs (NHPs) in Berhampur's UPHCs is therefore essential to identify service gaps, strengthen accountability, and inform targeted improvements aligned with national quality assurance standards.

METHODOLOGY

This observational study, conducted from September 2023 to February 2024 across all eight UPHCs within the Berhampur Municipal Corporation, employed the NHP component of the National Quality Assurance Standards (NQAS) checklist to evaluate each facility's performance. Universal sampling ensured comprehensive coverage, and compliance with measurable checklist elements and checkpoints was recorded. Departmental scores were calculated using formulated Excel Sheets by summing compliant items, converting these to percentages, and displaying results via a visual scorecard to facilitate interdepartmental comparisons.

RESULTS

Performance varied markedly: Ankuli scored 28.52%, Aska Road 93.16%, Aga Sahi 94.49%, Ambapua 91.25%, Baikuntha Nagar 92.21%, Goodshed Road 86.50%, Khodasingh 89.54%, and Uttaramukhi 89.54%. While several PHCs demonstrated high adherence to NHP standards, Ankuli's low score highlights critical deficiencies requiring urgent attention.

CONCLUSIONS

The study concludes that national-quality assessments demand extensive preparatory work-including training external assessors, sensitizing state nodal officers and facility staff, and ensuring widespread familiarity with program protocols and frameworks to achieve sustainable, long-term improvements in healthcare delivery.