NABL and NABH Accreditation! Things To Know!

Introduction

NABL stands for National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories, and NABH is an acronym for National Accreditation Board for Hospitals and Healthcare Providers. The NABL provides accreditation to Laboratories in India. It has MRA (Mutual Recognition Arrangement) with ILAC (International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation), and APAC (Asia Pacific Accreditation Cooperation). This is an integral board of the Quality Council of India. It is an independent setup under the DPIIT (Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade), the Government of India, and the Ministry of Commerce and Industry & was formed in 1988. Department of Science and Technology, India is the founder of the NABL. Its purpose is to provide accreditation services in India, and its headquarters are in Gurgaon, Haryana, India.

The NABH is a component board of the QCI (Quality Council of India). It is set up to operate and establish accreditation programs for Healthcare Organizations. It was formed in 2005, which is the significant accreditation for hospitals in India. Its headquarters are set up in New Delhi. 

Contents

1. Benefits of Accreditation
2. Procedure of Accreditation
3. The Procedure of NABH Accreditation
4. Services Provided by NABL
5. Services Provided by NABH
6. Advantages of the NABL
7. Advantages of the NABH
8. Main Clauses of the NABH Standards
9. Conclusion

Benefits of Accreditation

The NABL is a complete member of APAC MRA (Mutual Recognition Arrangements) as well as ILAC, based on mutual acceptance and evaluation of other MRA Partner Laboratory Accreditation Systems. This accreditation is acknowledged by many Government regulators, and bodies.

The NABL manages the integrated assignments with regulators, like APEDA, FSSAI, EIC, etc. The Integrated Assessments analyze the process of recognition, as the laboratories can be recognized by the regulators, and can get accredited in a single combined assessment rather than separate multiple assessments, which are generally needed.

Accreditation results in patient safety and high-quality care. The rights of patients are protected under the NABH Accreditation. 

1. An accreditation recognizes gaps and strengths in your processes and programs.
2. It promotes a culture of safety and quality.
3. Accreditation reduces risks, and improves patient outcomes.
4. Accreditation improves staff empowerment and communication across organizations.
5. It can diminish risks, and liability costs.
6. It provides a secure and safe environment for the patients, their families, visitors, and staff.
7. The organization encourages the mental and physical well-being of staff.
8. Effective systems and pieces of equipment to be in place to halt any unfavorable incidents.
9. It facilitates staff training in all aspects of patient and personal safety, during conditions like CPR, disasters, etc.
10. Services are provided by professional healthcare.   

Procedure of Accreditation

Following are the key steps of the Accreditation procedure:

1. Undertaking a Self-Assessment against the Regulations
2. Making an Initial Application for Accreditation to the Accreditation Body
3. Desk-Based Document Review, by the Accreditation Body
4. On-Site Pre-Assessment Meeting with the Accreditation Body
5. On-site, Initial, Full Assessment by the Accreditation Body
6. Now, if the Accreditation Requirements do not meet, go to the appropriate earlier step.
7. If the Accreditation requirements are met, follow the further steps.
8. Grant of Accreditation (or otherwise)
9. Follow up, On-site Assessment by Accreditation Body.

The Procedure of NABH Accreditation

Following are the key steps of the procedure of NABH Accreditation:

1. Preparation of Policies and Manuals
2. Application for Accreditation
3. Scrutiny of Application  
4. Notification of Principal Assessor and Assessment Team
5. Communication Channel
6. Pre-Assessment (Optional)
7. Final Assessment
8. Review of Assessment Report
9. Issue of Accreditation Certificate
10. Surveillance and Reassessment
11. Issue of Standard Agreement
12. Disclaimer and Indemnity  

Services Provided by NABL

The following are the services provided by the NABL:

1. PTP (Proficiency Testing Providers) as per ISO/IEC 17043
2. Testing Laboratories as per ISO/IEC 17025
3. Medical Testing in Laboratories, as per ISO 15189
4. RMP (Reference Material Producers) as per ISO 17034
5. Calibration Laboratories as per ISO/IEC 17025

Services Provided by NABH

It provides accreditation programs for different organizations, and the following are the places offered by the NABH:

1. Programs for Hospitals
2. Programs for Blood Banks and Transfusion Services
3. Small Healthcare Organizations and Nursing Homes
4. Oral Substitution Therapy Centers
5. Primary and Secondary Health Centers

Advantages of the NABL

1. The NABL Accreditation helps reduce manufacturing and the exporting costs for the materials and products that are tested in laboratories.
2. The users of accredited laboratories can enjoy larger access to their products, in domestic as well as international markets.
3. Savings, in terms of money and time, due to the elimination or reduction of the need for re-testing products.
4. Staff education, competence monitoring, and training
5. It contributes to the overall risk management system.
6. Improvement in the tests and calibration performance, which includes identification and investigation of the causes of disappointing PT performance.
7. This accreditation includes cost reduction, time and money efficiency, international recognition, continual improvements, enhanced customer satisfaction and confidence, robust quality management system, better operational control, assurance of reliable and accurate results, prevention of loss due to defects, and access to global markets. 

Advantages of the NABH

1. The NABH hospital accreditation standards are empowered by ISQua, which provides the standards of International Recognition, and these standards are measured globally along with others.
2. It is also assisted by many other ministries, such as the Ministry of Tourism, the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, etc.
3. It is the only accreditation body, which has an accreditation system for Traditional Medicine Worldwide.
4. It has liberated standards for Unani, Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Homoeopathy, and Siddha.
5. These standards are configured to promote ease of implementation and understanding.
6. The NABH accreditation’s investment cost is much lower, when it is compared to other International Accreditation Programs, without accommodating the quality of standards. 

Main Clauses of the NABH Standards

1. IMS (Information Management System)
2. MQS (Management of Quality and Safety)
3. HRM (Human Resource Management)
4. EMM (Equipment, Material, and Medications)
5. FMS (Facility Management and Safety)
6. IPI (Imaging Procedures and Interpretation)
7. AAPC (Access Assessment and Patient Care)

Conclusion

These accreditation programs are designed to support public healthcare’s and practitioners. It enhances the patient’s quality of safety and security. It supports the medical environment and medical health practitioners, as well as ensures the patient’s quality of treatment. The NABL and NABH are the government accreditation bodies.