The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), in collaboration with the National Health Authority (NHA) and WHO India, has taken a significant step towards enhancing healthcare in India by releasing 32 new Standard Treatment Workflows (STWs). These STWs cover five specialties: Cardiothoracic Vascular Surgery, Paediatric Cardiology, Interventional Radiology, Neuro Surgery, and Orthopaedics.
These new standards are an addition to the existing 125 STWs previously released across 23 specialties in 2019 and 2022 by the ICMR. The ICMR’s initiative to introduce evidence-based STWs aims to ensure consistency and quality in medical care across the nation. These guidelines, developed by leading national experts, promote optimal treatment practices, rational drug use, and efficient healthcare services.
Each concise one-page document outlines key actions for physicians, providing a clear and standardized approach to treatment. This ensures uniformity in healthcare standards within India’s public healthcare system. During the launch of Volume-IV of the Standard Treatment Workflows at the ICMR, Prof. Vinod Kumar Paul, Member (Health), NITI Aayog, emphasized the significance of these tools in shaping a resilient future for healthcare.
He stated, “These evidence-based and trusted workflows ensure that patients receive the right treatment, while standardization helps healthcare professionals follow guidelines effectively. Transformative and reliable, they guarantee accurate patient care. Standardization empowers healthcare professionals to easily adhere to guidelines, ensuring effective treatment protocols for all. Let’s not just know but apply these STWs, instilling pride in India’s healthcare system.”
Dr. Rajiv Bahl, Secretary – Department of Health Research (DHR) and DG ICMR, highlighted the importance of these protocols in saving lives and improving the quality of care. He stressed the need to incorporate these workflows into medical education from the beginning to strengthen the foundation of future healthcare professionals. Dr. Bahl also emphasized the importance of disseminating these workflows to healthcare insurance companies, healthcare centers, central health systems, and medical professional bodies.
Deepti Gaur Mukerjee, Chief Executive Officer, National Health Authority (NHA), underscored the joint initiative with the ICMR for developing these workflows and its focus on expanding the specialties covered by the STWs. She stated, “Looking forward, specialties such as burn management, plastic surgeries, and polytrauma will take centre stage in our future efforts. Our aim is to persistently enhance patient care by covering a more diverse range of medical fields through our STWs.”
Dr. Ashoo Grover, Senior Deputy Director General, Scientist G & Head Delivery Research at ICMR, highlighted the impact of these STWs on both physicians and the public. He stated that by incorporating STWs into practice, physicians can provide targeted treatment, while the public gains confidence in the healthcare system.
The ICMR remains committed to advancing standardized and evidence-based care through the development and implementation of the Standard Treatment Workflows. These workflows empower healthcare professionals and ensure the provision of high-quality care to patients across the country.
