Officials in Kerala stated that they had been following the method even before 2016, even though not on a large scale. Kerala follows a system where white sheets are used, but each one has the day printed on it to ensure daily changes.
Published Jan 31, 2025 | 1:37 PM ⚊ Updated Jan 31, 2025 | 1:37 PM
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma posted the images on X.
Recently, when Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced his decision to introduce weekday-labelled bed sheets in government hospitals, he called it an “innovative idea” he came across online.
However, social media users were quick to point out that this system has long been in place in Kerala’s healthcare facilities.
Sarma’s post on X on 29 January set off a debate about the origins of this hygiene practice. While he did not credit Kerala, comments flooded in urging him to acknowledge the state’s role.
However, is Kerala the only state to implement such a system? A deeper look suggests otherwise.
Health experts confirmed that using different bed linen for each day of the week is a globally recognized infection control measure.
In many hospitals, this system is popularly known as “VIBGYOR”, where bed sheets follow the colours of the rainbow — Violet, Indigo, Blue, Green, Yellow, Orange, and Red — aligning with the seven days of the week to maintain hygiene and infection control.
“Came across this innovative idea on the internet a few days back on mentioning week days in bed sheets & immediately ordered its implementation. We’ve introduced sheets with week days and colours mentioned so the same sheet is not repeated,” Sarma wrote on X.
Came across this innovative idea on the internet a few days back on mentioning week days in bed sheets & immediately ordered its implementation.
We’ve introduced sheets with week days and colours mentioned so the same sheet is not repeated.
Your thoughts on this?
📍GMCH & NMCH pic.twitter.com/M5NIKYpI3Z
— Himanta Biswa Sarma (@himantabiswa) January 29, 2025
The image of a bed sheet with a weekday labelled on it, this image from a healthcare facility in Kerala has gone viral on social media.
However, some hospitals take a different approach by using weekday-labelled bed sheets, ensuring a foolproof system where fresh linen is changed daily, leaving no room for lapses in cleanliness.
Whether through colours or clear markings, the goal remains the same — a safer, more hygienic environment for patients.
“This practice is not new. It has been used across the world to ensure that bed linen is changed daily, reducing hospital-acquired infections,” an official from Kerala’s Health Department told South First.
The Union Health Ministry formally endorsed this method in 2016, issuing guidelines instructing all states to adopt colour-coded hospital bed sheets.
Haryana was among the first to implement it, followed by West Bengal in 2017. Jammu and Kashmir and other states have also embraced the policy.
Meanwhile, officials in Kerala stated that they had been following the method even before 2016, even though not on a large scale. Kerala follows a system where white sheets are used, but each one has the day printed on it to ensure daily changes.
The state has been meticulous in enforcing infection control measures, particularly in its bid to secure National Quality Assurance Standards (NQAS) certification for government hospitals. So far, 200 facilities in the state have received this certification, where hygiene plays a critical role.
Beyond Kerala, concerns over hospital hygiene have reached the courts.
In August 2024, the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court issued a notice to Tamil Nadu authorities on a petition seeking strict enforcement of clean bed linen policies in government hospitals.
Contaminated hospital linens are recognised as potential carriers of microorganisms, including bacteria from bodily fluids like blood, urine, and vomit.
Strict adherence to linen hygiene is crucial to preventing infections.
While political debates swirl around who introduced the idea first, health officials emphasize that the focus should remain on patient safety.
“Changing bed sheets daily isn’t about credit — it’s about infection control and hospital hygiene,” a Directorate of Medical Education official pointed out to South First.
With Kerala and several other states already following this practice, Assam’s adoption of the system is another step toward improving hospital sanitation nationwide.
However, as social media debates continue, one thing is clear — good healthcare practices deserve recognition, no matter where they originate.
(Edited by Muhammed Fazil.)
