HCG-NCHRI city’s first comprehensive cancer centre to get NABH accreditation

NAGPUR: The HCG-Nagpur Cancer Hospital and Research Institute (NCG-NCHRI) has received the prestigious NABH accreditation. It is the first comprehensive cancer care centre in the city to have got accreditation by NABH (National Accreditation Board for Hospital and health care Providers).
The accreditation will help the hospital seek empanelment of various government schemes like the Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS).“This is a direct benefit to the poor patients who cannot otherwise afford expensive treatment. With this, beneficiary of all government schemes can be treated at the hospital at minimal cost. Since NABH accreditation also means certain standard in quality care, the beneficiaries of these schemes can expect world-class treatment at subsidized rates,” said Dr Navin Chug, head of quality of HCG (Health Care Global).
Dr Chug said NABH standards are accredited by the International Society for Quality in Healthcare (ISQUA). There are 90 quality indicators that every NABH accredited hospital must follow continuously for renewal of the accreditation after three years.
He said NABH authorities make surprise inspections and the hospitals are expected to submit compliance report quarterly. ‘So, there is no question of diluting of standards,” he said.
Dr Ajay Mehta, director surgical oncology, said the accreditation meant better employee standards which indirectly means better satisfaction to the staff. This indirectly reflects through their good work. All this, he said, results in best possible care to every patient.
“We already have the Mahatma Jyotiba Phule Jan Arogya Yojna and Ayushman Bharat to offer treatment to poor patients. NABH accreditation is like icing on the cake. This will allow us to seek corporate funds and grants from renowned bodies as well for the hospital due to quality standard,” he said.
Dr Vaibhav Choudhary, medical oncologist and, Dr Suchitra Mehta, another hospital director, stressed that this ensures quality standards are followed at every point during treatment. It means that the patient gets best quality treatment during the medical treatment, chemotherapy, radiation therapy etc.
Dr Mehta said the accreditation has increased the responsibilities of the hospital, which is now more accountable towards its duties.
Dr Nishad Dhakate, consultant hematologists and Bone Marrow Transplant (BMT) physician, said the NABH accreditation would also mandatorily bring best standards of infection control and management of patient post BMT. The hospital already has done two BMTs in the last four months. It has a nine-bedded BMT unit.
Though the accreditation is a voluntary procedure, there are about 20,000 pending cases for NABH accreditation in the country. This speaks volumes about the necessity of accreditation as it brings healthy competition among the best and ensures patient safety.
The third-party audits are always good for maintaining quality standards. NABH accreditation is a third-party audit.