To improve the housekeeping and sanitation standards in the central government hospitals, the staff at these hospitals will undergo training provided by private healthcare providers, said a health ministry release on Friday.

A memorandum of understanding has been signed by three central government hospitals – Safdarjung Hospital, Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital and Lady Hardinge Medical College – with Max Healthcare Institute Limited here for the same.

Around 230 personnel from each of these hospitals will undergo training in a phased manner over a period of five to seven months.

Health secretary Sujatha Rao said at the launch of the training programme at Safdarjung hospital that a level of change in housekeeping should be brought about so that it sets a standard in housekeeping and sanitation of public hospitals.

The sanitation levels of each hospital will be assessed by Max healthcare staff consisting of housekeeping managers, HR personnel, infection control nurses and quality control personnel. Standard operating procedures and job descriptions for each member of the government hospital sanitation staff will then be developed and assigned. A “Train the Trainer” programme will then commence for 30 Supervisory Staff and a “Clean Hospital Campaign” will also be conducted by them.