The Department of Nursing Services and NQAS Quality Team, JIPMER, in collaboration with the Departments of Paediatrics and Neonatology, JIPMER, Puducherry, organised a State-Level Conference on MusQan, the national quality improvement initiative for child health services, as part of the Institute’s focused efforts towards achieving MusQan National Certification. The conference brought together around 100 nursing professionals to strengthen their understanding of MusQan standards and promote their effective implementation in clinical practice.

Launched by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) in September 2021, MusQan (Mothers Absolute Affection / Quality Improvement Initiative) aims to ensure child-friendly, safe and high-quality healthcare services in public health facilities across the country under the framework of the National Quality Assurance Standards (NQAS).

Speaking on the initiative, Dr. Vir Singh Negi, Director, JIPMER, emphasised the importance of capacity-building initiatives in achieving MusQan National Certification. He highlighted the need for consistent adherence to prescribed quality standards, standard operating procedures, infection prevention and control measures, patient safety practices and proper clinical documentation. Such training programmes help translate established guidelines into effective bedside practices, strengthen institutional preparedness for assessment and promote sustained quality improvement.

A key highlight of the conference was the release of the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) Manual for Women and Child Health (WCH), developed by JIPMER in accordance with MusQan guidelines. The manual is intended to standardise clinical practices, promote uniformity in care delivery and support healthcare professionals in implementing quality standards consistently. The manual was released by Dr. Saka Vinod Kumar, Medical Superintendent, JIPMER, in the presence of Dr. Gunasekaran Dhandapany, Professor and Head, Department of Paediatrics; Dr. Murugesan, Assistant Professor, Department of Neonatology; Ms. Pushpalatha K., Officer-in-Charge, Nursing Services; and Mrs. Sengamalarselvi M., DNS-cum-Quality Manager, JIPMER.

The technical sessions covered key areas relating to the NQAS and MusQan certification frameworks, effective communication for child-friendly and family-centred care, early identification of childhood health conditions under the Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RBSK), infant and young child feeding practices, care of newborns and low-birth-weight babies, management of critical neonatal conditions, and prevention of infections in newborns. Experts from JIPMER and the College of Nursing, MTPGRIHS, delivered the sessions, providing participants with practical insights into implementing quality standards in maternal and child healthcare services.

 

The conference reaffirmed JIPMER’s commitment to strengthening quality assurance systems, enhancing the competencies of its healthcare workforce and embedding patient safety and quality improvement into routine clinical practice. Through sustained capacity building, standardised protocols and continuous quality monitoring, JIPMER continues to advance its preparedness for MusQan National Certification and its efforts to improve healthcare outcomes for women and children.

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