New Delhi, Sept. 9 -- In a significant move to safeguard patients, the government has prepared a new set of guidelines for hospitals to actively fight against healthcare-associated infections (HAIs). These infections, often called hospital-acquired infections, have now become a major public health issue that hurts patient health, and can even lead to death.

The protocol calls for hospitals to be more proactive, transparent, and data-driven in their approach to patient safety. The rules, however, do not state any penalty for non-compliance by hospitals.

These technical guidelines are in the implementation stage and are being led by the ministry of health and family welfare (MoHFW) under the National Health Mission. These norms were devel...