NABL and NABH Accreditation in India: Process and Benefits

What is NABL?¹

National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL) is a constituent board of Quality Council of India (QCI), which involves third-party assessment of labs for technical competence of testing including:¹              

• Medical and calibration labs
• Reference material producers
• Proficiency testing

Objective¹

The objective is to provide the government, industry associations and industry in general with a scheme of Conformity Assessment Body’s (CAB) accreditation.

Benefits of NABL accreditation¹

NABL accreditation labs have great benefits. To name a few, they get:

Process of NABL accreditation²

^{NABL accreditation is given to certain fields and disciplines. Different bodies known as CABs require NABL accreditation, such as:}

• Laboratory testing equipment
• Calibration laboratories
• Medical laboratories
• Proficiency laboratories
• Reference material laboratories

The following is the process of NABL accreditation²

Adapted from the National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories. For more information on NABL accreditation, please visit: https://nabl-india.org/about-nabl/accreditation-schemes/

What is NABH?³

National Accreditation Board for Hospitals & Healthcare Providers (NABH) is a constituent board of QCI that provides accreditation for hospitals by:³

• Enhancing health systems
• Promoting patient safety

Objective³

The objective is to operate accreditation and allied programs in collaboration with stakeholders focusing on patient safety and quality of healthcare based on national/international standards, through process of self and external evaluation.

Benefits of NABH³

1. Benefits for patients

NABH-accredited hospitals provide medical services to patients rich in quality and infrastructure. Here are some benefits for patients:

• High quality of care
• Patient safety assured
• Rights of patients are protected and respected
• Patient satisfaction regularly evaluated

2. Benefits for organisations

NABH-accredited medical hospitals will have the maximum benefits. The following are some of them:

• Stimulates continuous improvement
• Demonstrate and deliver quality care to patients
• Opportunity to benchmark with the best
• Marketing advantage in competitive healthcare
• Promote medical tourism
• Objective system of empanelment by insurance and other third parties

3. Benefits for staff

NABH-accredited hospitals provide certain benefits to their staff as well, such as:

• Better working environment and leadership
• Confidence and efficiency improved

Process of NABH accreditation³

CAPA: Corrective action preventive action

Adapted from National Accreditation Board for Hospitals and Healthcare Providers. For more information on NABH accreditation, please visit: https://www.nabh.co/Images/PDF/nabh_gib_hos.pdf