The Telangana government is taking steps to improve Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) across government hospitals, envisaging a greater role for clinical staff and administrative leaders, said Commissioner of Health and Family Welfare R.V. Karnan in Hyderabad on Saturday (October 5).
He highlighted the importance of active participation by doctors and facility administrators in IPC efforts and the need for a dedicated IPC budget in the State to ensure smooth implementation of infection control activities. According to World Health Organisation (WHO), IPC is a practical, evidence-based approach to prevent avoidable infections in patients and healthcare workers. IPC encompass all aspects of healthcare, including hand hygiene, surgical site infections, injection safety and antimicrobial resistance (AMR).
While speaking at the Global South Conference on Infection Prevention and Control and Antimicrobial Stewardship (G-SPARC) conference in Hyderabad, Mr. Karnan said the government has already rolled out IPC programmes in 21 government healthcare facilities in 13 districts of Telangana. “To move forward, the involvement of clinical staff in IPC activities is essential.
Since August 2022, the health department has been conducting IPC assessments in these select 21 facilities. These assessments helped identify gaps in infection control practices, leading to corrective measures, training and mentoring of healthcare staff,” Mr. Karnan further said.
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