Puducherry: The JIPMER Rural Health Centre (JRHC) at Ramanathapuram, under the Department of Preventive and Social Medicine (P&SM), has become the first Health and Wellness Centre (HWC) in the Union Territory of Puducherry to receive the National Quality Assurance Standards (NQAS) certification.

The recognition follows a rigorous national-level assessment in which JRHC scored 91.05 per cent. The certification, developed by the National Health Systems Resource Centre (NHSRC) under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, measures the quality of public health facilities across eight domains, including clinical care, infection control, patient rights, and service delivery.

With this certification, JRHC joins the list of nationally recognized facilities delivering safe, effective, and patient-friendly health care. It will also be eligible for financial incentives to sustain quality improvement efforts.

JIPMER Director Dr. Vir Singh Negi said the recognition was a proud moment for the institute, reflecting its commitment to quality and innovation in primary health care. He commended the Department of Preventive and Social Medicine for its leadership and teamwork.

The 24x7 Rural Health Centre at Ramanathapuram serves over 11,200 residents across four villages, while the Urban Health Centre at Kurusukuppam caters to around 9,000 people. Both centres function as Ayushman Bharat Health and Wellness Centres, offering comprehensive care, including maternal, child, geriatric, and mental health services, along with teleconsultation, yoga, and outreach programmes.