What is NABL and NABH?

NABL (National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories) is an accreditation body which accredits testing and calibration laboratories by assessing them against quality standards such as ISO 15189:2022. It grants accreditation to those laboratories who adhere to standards and policies.

Quality of laboratories is important for NABL. This includes accurate and reliable test results, appropriate record keeping, equipment validation, internal auditing and quality control systems.

NABH (National Accreditation Board for Hospitals and Healthcare Providers) is an accreditation body that accredits hospitals and other healthcare providers. This ensures that they can provide safe, ethical and quality care.

NABH includes patients’ rights, a safe and healthy environment, appropriate medical records and quality healthcare services.

What is the Difference Between NABL and NABH?

NABL = Accreditation of Testing and Calibration Laboratories

NABH = Accreditation of Healthcare Facilities

• Patient Confidence: Assists in the development of trust among patients and the healthcare workforce.
• Continuous Improvement: Assists laboratories in identifying test process errors and failures.

NABL accreditation is open to large and small laboratories.

For more information, visit the NABL website.

What is NABH Accreditation Important For Hospitals?

It enables health care organizations to improve patient safety and quality of services. It also creates a standardization process for managing their facilities.

The benefits include, but are not limited to:

• Patient Safety
• Infection Control
• Respect of Patient Rights
• Staff Training
• Safety of the Hospital Facility

NABH accreditation assists healthcare organizations in achieving the above-mentioned benefits as well as establishing reliable patient care processes and improving the overall performance and patient care processes of the organization.

To learn more about the benefits offered by accreditation and what criteria must be met to qualify please visit their official website here.

What is the Difference Between NABH and NABL Accreditation?

Both are focussed on quality within the healthcare sector but apply to different sectors within the industry.

1. Area of Accreditation

NABH covers the fields of healthcare quality and patient safety; it also covers the overall functioning of healthcare facilities.

NABL covers the technical and quality management systems of laboratories.

2. Scope of Practice

NABL accreditation applies to medical, testing and calibration laboratories.

NABH accreditation applies to hospitals and other eligible healthcare facilities.

3. Quality Criteria

For NABL accreditation, medical laboratories must fulfill the applicable requirements of ISO 15189:2022.

To gain NABH accreditation, hospitals need to adhere to the relevant NABH standards and requirements.

4. Assessment Focus

NABL assessments encompass laboratory competency, procedures, equipment and staff competency as well as quality management practices.

NABH assessments cover patient care and safety, as well as the management of the healthcare service facility, infection control practices and processes.

Can a Laboratory and a Healthcare Service Facility Earn Both NABL and NABH Accreditation?

Yes. NABH accreditation is meant for healthcare service facilities while NABL accreditation is meant for laboratories.

Therefore, it is possible for the same facility to earn both NABL and NABH accreditation.

NABL and NABH accreditation serve distinct purposes.

For instance, NABH accreditation promotes the quality and safety of patients, while NABL accreditation provides confidence in the competence of testing and calibration laboratories.

A laboratory or service facility that has both functions may opt for both accreditations.

Documents Needed for NABL and NABH Accreditation

The role of documents in accreditation processes cannot be overemphasized.

NABL Documentation

Some of the important laboratory documents include:

• Quality Manual
• Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)
• Equipment Calibration and Maintenance Records
• Quality Control Records
• Staff Training and Competency Records
• Equipment and Staff Performance Assessments
• Internal Audits and Corrective Actions

NABH Documentation

Some of the important hospital documents include:

• Patient Care and Safety Policies
• Infection Prevention and Control Records
• Processes for Receiving and Handling Complaints
• Staff Training and Assessment Records
• Facility Management Records
• Facility Safety Records

These documents are helpful to show that quality management practices are put into place.

Common Problems in NABL and NABH Accreditation

During the preparation for accreditation, several challenges are encountered.

• Incomplete Documentation: Missing or obsolete records.
• Lack of Staff Awareness: Further training for the staff may be needed in order to understand the requirements of accreditation.
• Implementation Gaps: Failure to implement processes when creating documentation will result in non-conformities.
• Inadequate Internal Audits: Internal audits are not thorough enough meaning issues are not investigated and resolved to ensure readiness for accreditation.
• Poor Quality Monitoring: Quality Assurance is not consistent.

By having an effective planning process you can ensure you have documentation, training and monitoring in place to control these issues.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q1. Are all the laboratories required to have NABL Accreditation?

Ans. NABL accreditation is generally voluntary. However, some contracts, government schemes as well as regulations may require it.

Q2. Can small hospitals also apply for NABH accreditation?

Ans. Yes. Small hospitals can apply for the relevant accreditation/certification scheme of NABH.

Q3. Can a Hospital Get Both NABL and NABH Accreditation?

Ans. Yes, a hospital can get both accreditations. It can get NABH accreditation for the hospital’s healthcare services and NABL accreditation for the hospital’s medical laboratories.

Final Thoughts

Improving quality of healthcare services in India requires efforts of both NABL and NABH.

NABL helps in the achievement of reliable laboratory testing and assessment of competence, whereas NABH helps achieve assurance of safety and quality of healthcare services.