The Atal Bihari Vajpayee Institute of Medical Sciences (ABVIMS) and Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia (RML) Hospital have become the first central government hospitals to receive full accreditation from the National Accreditation Board for Hospitals & Healthcare Providers (NABH) under its latest 5th Edition Standards.

This prestigious accreditation marks the successful culmination of a rigorous two-year quality enhancement journey covering every aspect of hospital functioning—from clinical services to emergency response systems and facility management. NABH assessors audited 561 standards across 36 departments and 15 clinical buildings.

Hospital Director Dr. (Prof.) Ashok Kumar highlighted that the accreditation reflects sustained efforts by all hospital staff, including doctors, nurses, technicians, and support personnel, to mainstream patient safety and quality systems into routine practice. Medical Superintendent Dr. (Prof.) Vivek Dewan pointed out that the process has strengthened clinical protocols and emergency preparedness, noting real-life instances where trained teams effectively handled critical situations such as Code Blue (cardiac arrest) and Code Pink (infant abduction).

Dean Dr. Arti Maria described the achievement as a significant milestone, emphasizing that quality improvement is continuous and this accreditation sets the foundation for further advancements in patient care. The hospital created over 150 quality-related formats and standard operating procedures spanning 31 departments, backed by comprehensive training programs in life support, fire safety, and emergency drills.

An NABH spokesperson congratulated RML Hospital for meeting exacting benchmarks covering patient rights, safety, infection control, and governance. With 1,500 beds and daily handling of over 7,000 outpatients and 100-150 emergency cases, the hospital will undergo periodic reviews to maintain its accreditation status.

This landmark achievement underscores RML Hospital’s commitment to delivering high-quality healthcare services and patient safety at par with national and international standards, setting a benchmark for other central government institutions to follow.