RML hospital: The Atal Bihari Vajpayee Institute of Medical Sciences (ABVIMS) and Dr Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital have become the first hospital under the central government to receive full accreditation from the National Accreditation Board for Hospitals & Healthcare Providers (NABH) under its latest 5th Edition Standards.
The announcement was made at a press conference on Tuesday attended by Director Dr (Prof) Ashok Kumar, Medical Superintendent Dr (Prof) Vivek Dewan, Dean Dr Arti Maria, Chairman of the Quality & Accreditation Committee Dr (Prof) Sameek Bhattacharya, and Nodal Officer Dr Parul Goyel.
“This accreditation is the outcome of sustained efforts across every department, from clinical services to support functions. It demonstrates that patient safety and quality systems have become part of our routine work,” Dr Kumar said.
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Dr Dewan noted that the two-year process had improved the hospital’s overall functioning. “Every member — doctors, nurses, technicians, and support staff — contributed to meeting NABH standards. The process has strengthened our emergency response systems and clinical protocols,” he said.
Dean Dr Maria described the recognition as “a step forward” rather than the final goal. “Quality improvement is a continuous process. This milestone sets the stage for further enhancements in patient care,” she said.
Explaining the preparation, Dr Bhattacharya said that 31 departments created Standard Operating Procedures, over 150 quality-related formats were introduced, and training covered Basic Life Support, fire safety, and drills for Code Pink (infant abduction), Code Blue (cardiac arrest), and other emergencies.
NABH assessors audited 561 standards across 36 departments and 15 clinical buildings.
Dr Goyel added that the systems put in place have already been tested in real situations. “We have successfully handled multiple Code Blues and a Code Pink because staff were trained and systems were in place,” she said.
An NABH spokesperson congratulated the hospital for being the first in the central government sector to achieve this status under the 5th Edition Standards. “The accreditation reflects compliance with rigorous benchmarks on patient rights, safety, infection control, facility management, and governance. The challenge now is to sustain these standards,” the official said.
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With 1,500 beds, over 7,000 OPD patients daily, and 100–150 emergency cases, the hospital will be required to undergo periodic NABH reviews to retain its accreditation.
