- Ministry of Health and Family Welfare had launched LaQshya (Labour room Quality improvement Initiative) in 2018.
- The initiative aims at improving quality of care in labour room and maternity Operation Theatre (OT) in public health facilities.
- The objectives of LaQshya are a) To reduce maternal and newborn mortality & morbidity due to haemorrhage, retained placenta, obstructed labour, newborn sepsis, etc., b) To improve Quality of care during the delivery and immediate post-partum care, stabilization of complications and ensure timely referrals, and enable an effective two-way follow-up system and c) To enhance satisfaction of beneficiaries visiting the health facilities and provide Respectful Maternity Care (RMC) to all pregnant women attending the public health facilities.
- Under the initiative, a multi-pronged strategy has been adopted such as – a) improving infrastructure up-gradation, b) ensuring availability of essential equipment, c) providing adequate human resources, d) capacity building of health care workers and e) improving quality processes in the labour room.