The Kayakalp scheme aims to maintain cleanliness everywhere around the public health sector by rewarding their performances. Primarily an extension of “Swachh Bharat Abhiyan”, it focuses on enhancing the cleanliness, hygienic, waste management and infection control practices across every public healthcare facility in India.

A significant social safety net for addressing a portion of the population's healthcare needs is provided by public healthcare facilities. Keeping public health care facilities clean also encourages the development of clean environment-related behaviours. Read to know further details about the Kayakalp Scheme.

This programme was launched on 15th May 2015 by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) to appreciate and recognise the positive effort shown by various hospitals and community health centres at district and state levels towards a greater hygienic and pure environment.

Generally, starting from District hospitals in 2015, it has spread its wings to PHC level (2016) and Urban Health Facilities (2017) and has led to a high rate of positive outcomes towards healthy habits.

• To promote better hygiene, infection control, waste management and sanitation practices.
• Acknowledge and reward the noteworthy performances of public healthcare facilities.
• Starting peer review and ongoing assessment culture to improve the facilities furthermore.
• Creating and sharing feasible strategies for enhancing the quality of services offered by healthcare centres around the nation.

The following requirements determine Kayakalp scheme eligibility –

• Organisation belonging to the cleanliness and infection control committee.
• A body organises peer assessments or internal assessments periodically under the specified criteria.
• Institutions scoring above 70% in the peer assessment process.

The parameters are divided into six thematic areas upon which the performance of a public healthcare facility is determined.

1. Improving Maintenance and Facility of Hospitals

• Maintaining infrastructure
• Appearance of the hospital or centre.
• Control over pests and animals.
• Improving greenery around the facility.
• Preservation of open spaces.
• Illumination and lighting conditions.
• Junk material removal management
• Conservation of water.
• Management of the workplace.

2. Sanitation and Hygiene Management

• Cleanliness of wards, toilets, labs, OPDs, auxiliary and procedure areas.
• Use of standard materials, equipment and cleaning methods.
• Monitoring cleanliness activities and managing drainage and sewage systems.

3. Dry and Wet Waste Management

• Implementation of Bio-medical waste (BMW) rules (amended 2018)
• Managing the entire process of segregation, collection and transportation of BMW.
• Hazardous waste management.
• Solid and liquid general waste management.
• Keeping an eye on supplies and equipment for BMW.

4. Infection Control Management

• Additional and standard precautions.
• Spill management
• Nursing of barriers and isolating patients
• Surveillance and control programme for hospital language.
• Environment control.

5. Healthcare Support Services

• Managing laundry and linen
• Sanitising water
• Maintaining hygienic kitchen services.
• Security services of the hospital
• Managing the out-sourcing services.

6. Promoting Hygiene

• Participation of patients and monitoring community.
• Information, communication and education about good hygiene habits.
• Leadership and teamwork of the healthcare personnel.
• Staff dress code and healthy habits.

The assessment process follows an assessment process. The steps below show the process for the Kayakalp Award Scheme:

Step 1 – Internal Assessment

Internal assessments should be carried out quarterly. Keep a record of the scores and submit it to the Chief Medical Officer. This evaluation is to be done by their healthcare staff using the standard assessment tools.

Step 2 – Peer Assessment

An institution with an internal assessment score above 70% is eligible for peer assessment, and it is done by the healthcare staff of a different block in between the districts.

A similar pattern is followed at the state level, where one team is allocated from a DH to assess at another DH.

The peer assessment should be done at least once a year as they form the basis of nomination for annual awards.

Step 3 – Nomination of the Facilities

The District Award Nomination committee gathers all the results from peer assessment and compares them to choose those who have scored above 70% in their evaluations.

The Kayakalp program is beneficial because it-

• Hugely benefits the bio-management protocols of a facility.
• Uplifts user experience.
• Motivates teamwork within the institution.
• Various stakeholders and NGOs can actively participate and share responsibilities.
• Giving away rewards as part of appreciation boosts inter-sectoral coordination.
• Rewards and incentives tend to initiate a culture of assessment and management.

The Kayakalp scheme has played a vital role in strengthening India’s Healthcare sector. The assessment process brings about greater engagement from health workers, resulting in better coordination and teamwork. Furthermore, giving away awards brings a sense of competition and pride among the hospitals and other community health centres.