NABH must for empanelled hospitals: IRDA

This action will now mandate hospitals under the Insurance scheme empanelment to provide documented records (discharge Summary) to patients.

Along with the above mentioned standards, the hospitals will also be required to meet standards in patient safety and infection control.

Dr Alex Thomas, who is on the board of NABH, told, “This is a huge step forward in healthcare delivery at the grassroots level. A lot of patients operated upon in rural areas don’t even know what has been done to them. That will change.”

As reported by The New Indian Express, this move will be beneficial for patients as they would experience improvised healthcare delivery. The hospitals will be mandated to follow the standards and improve the conditions within the premises.

“In the West, 80 per cent of hospitals have insurance schemes. In India, only 7 per cent of private hospitals have insurance schemes. The insurance sector has turned into a driver of patient safety. Unless the hospital is accredited, insurance claims are not passed. This notification by IRDA will push its empanelled hospitals to improve their healthcare delivery”, Said Dr K K Kalra, CEO, NABH.