ICMR releases its Volume-IV of Standard Treatment Workflows with 32 new STWs, covering 5 specialities

New Delhi: The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), in collaboration with the National Health Authority (NHA) and WHO India, has released 32 new Standard Treatment Workflows (STWs) for common and serious diseases.

These cover five specialties: Cardiothoracic Vascular Surgery, Paediatric Cardiology, Interventional Radiology, Neuro Surgery, and Orthopaedics, adding to the 125 STWs previously released across 23 specialties in in 2019 and 2022.

The ICMR introduces evidence-based STWs to enhance medical care consistency in India. These guidelines, created by national experts, promote optimal treatment practices, rational drug use, and efficient healthcare services. Each concise one-page document outlines key actions for physicians, ensuring uniform healthcare standards in India’s public healthcare system.

During the Volume-IV launch of Standard Treatment Workflows at ICMR, Prof. Vinod Kumar Paul Member NITI Aayog, passionately endorsed the STWs, proclaiming, “These vital tools have been the guiding light since inception, shaping a resilient future. These evidence-based and trusted workflows ensure that patients receive the right treatment, while standardization helps healthcare professionals follow guidelines effectively. Transformative and reliable, they guarantee accurate patient care. Standardization empowers healthcare professionals to easily adhere to guidelines, ensuring effective treatment protocols for all. Let’s not just know but apply these STWs, instilling pride in India’s healthcare system.”

Dr Rajiv Bahl, Secretary – DHR and DG ICMR, emphasized the significance of these protocols, saying, “Standard protocols save lives and improve the quality of care. By incorporating these workflows into medical education from the beginning, we strengthen the foundation of our healthcare professionals. We also aim to disseminate these workflows to healthcare insurance companies, healthcare centres, central health systems, and medical professional bodies.”

Deepti Gaur Mukerjee, Chief Executive Officer, National Health Authority (NHA), shared her positive outlook on the collaboration and highlighted future plans, saying, “Our joint initiative with ICMR for the development of these workflows has been a fruitful endeavour. We’ve put considerable effort into broadening the specialties encompassed by the STWs. Looking forward, specialties such as burn management, plastic surgeries, and polytrauma will take centre stage in our future efforts. Our aim is to persistently enhance patient care by covering a more diverse range of medical fields through our STWs.”

Dr Ashoo Grover, Senior Deputy Director General, Scientist G & Head Delivery Research at ICMR, highlighted the impact of these STWs, stating, “The dissemination of the STWs has been remarkable, both nationally and internationally. Our collaboration with National Institute of Health & Family Welfare (NIHFW) has resulted in the publication of three manuscripts in PubMed-indexed journals. The development of these workflows is a challenging process, aiming to streamline healthcare in India. By incorporating STWs into practice, physicians can provide targeted treatment, while the public gains confidence in the healthcare system.”

The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) remains committed to advancing standardized and evidence-based care through the development and implementation of the Standard Treatment Workflows (STWs). These workflows not only empower healthcare professionals but also ensure the provision of high-quality care to patients across the country.