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:
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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
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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
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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
References
- National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories. What are Benefits of Accreditation? Available at: https://nabl-india.org/faq/#6. Accessed on 8 September 2022.
- National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories. NABL Accreditation Process & Scope. Available at: https://nabl-india.org/about-nabl/accreditation-schemes/. Accessed on 8 September 2022.
- National Accreditation Board for Hospitals & Healthcare Providers. Available at: https://nabh.co/introduction.aspx. Accessed on 8 September 2022.