NABH integrates FOGSI’s Manyata standards for maternal health quality in certification programmes

The National Accreditation Board for Hospitals & Healthcare Providers (NABH) has formally integrated Manyata, the maternal health quality standards developed by the Federation of Obstetric and Gynaecological Societies of India (FOGSI), into its certification programmes. The initiative builds on a strategic collaboration formed in 2022 between NABH and FOGSI, aimed at advancing the quality of maternal healthcare in India and supporting the government’s ‘One Nation One Standard’ vision. Through this integration, the collaboration promotes standardised maternal healthcare nationwide, contributing to Universal Health Coverage efforts.

Manyata is FOGSI’s flagship quality initiative, established to ensure that maternity care for mothers is safe and consistent during and after childbirth. Based on the World Health Organization’s standards for antenatal, intrapartum, and postpartum care, Manyata promotes evidence-based clinical standards to improve maternal health outcomes.

A pilot programme launched to implement this collaboration saw 200 private maternity facilities assessed on Manyata standards by NABH assessors, who had been trained specifically for this purpose by FOGSI. The pilot’s outcomes showed consistent certification success rates, whether facilities were assessed by FOGSI or NABH assessors. With this integration, facilities pursuing NABH Entry-Level certification can now achieve dual certifications for both NABH and Manyata. The NABH HOPE portal will facilitate application processing and assessments digitally, while FOGSI will identify and train additional assessors to build a dedicated pool of NABH-certified specialists in obstetrics and gynaecology.

Chairman of NABH, Rizwan Koita, commented on the significance of the collaboration: “Uniform standards are crucial for ensuring that every mother receives consistent care, regardless of where she delivers. By incorporating Manyata guidelines into NABH certification programs, we are not only strengthening our accreditation framework, but also setting a new benchmark for maternal health. This standardisation will play a vital role in transforming maternal care across India. In addition, NABH will incorporate maternal health guidelines into NABH Digital Health Standards for Hospitals and HIS/EMR Systems engaged in mother and childcare.”

Dr Madhuri Patel, Secretary General of FOGSI, noted the need for greater progress in reducing maternal mortality, saying, “With 1.3 million Indian women having lost their lives to maternal causes over the past two decades, and despite a 70% overall decline in maternal mortality rates, there is a need to accelerate the progress. To achieve the UN’s 2030 Sustainable Development Goals and realise universal health coverage, we must deepen our resolve to bolstering healthcare systems. By harnessing the power of collaborations we can standardise care protocols, improve service delivery, and create sustainable solutions that enhance maternal healthcare accessibility.”

Dr. Hrishikesh D. Pai, Trustee of FIGO Asia Oceania and Chief Administrator of the FOGSI-Manyata initiative, described the collaboration as a significant step towards improving maternal care in private healthcare facilities. He stated, “The collaboration between FOGSI and NABH represents a pivotal step towards fostering a culture of excellence, accountability, and patient-centric care in the private healthcare sector. We are dedicated to building on this success and broadening the impact of the initiative. It will not only encourage wider adoption of best practices but also forge a path towards a future where every childbirth experience is safe, supported and dignified.”

Dr Rishma Pai, Former President of FOGSI, emphasised the importance of creating a unified system for maternal care, remarking, “By embedding Manyata’s comprehensive protocols into NABH’s certification guidelines, we aim to create a robust, unified system that elevates the quality of maternal care across the board. Expanding access to quality healthcare and standardising the care delivered is not merely a goal but a moral imperative- one that will ensure the safety of every mother and child who visit these facilities.”

The integration of Manyata standards comes as India continues to grapple with preventable maternal deaths. By setting standardised protocols within the healthcare sector, NABH and FOGSI seek to enhance maternal care delivery and improve health outcomes.

Dr Atul Mohan Kochhar, CEO of NABH, described the initiative as a “transformative step toward enhancing safe maternal healthcare,” noting that this approach aligns with FOGSI’s expertise to ensure comprehensive maternal health protocols in accredited hospitals.

Dr Hema Divakar, National Convener of the FOGSI-Manyata initiative, highlighted the collaboration’s alignment with shared goals: “Through a joint Technical Working Group, with members from FOGSI and NABH, we are working to streamline the quality standards to ensure they represent an ideal blend of infrastructure and labour room compliance, serving the best interests of mothers and newborns. This strategic alignment not only reinforces our commitment to patient safety and clinical excellence but also highlights the benefits of a unified approach to delivering high-quality, standardised care.”

This collaboration between NABH and FOGSI represents a significant advancement in maternal healthcare, establishing a model of standardisation intended to improve maternal health outcomes across India.