Rush from Indian hospitals to obtain international accreditation

Bangalore, Nov 18 (UNI) In an attempt to attract patients from abroad and improve the standard of services offered, Indian hospitals are rushing to get international accreditation from the Joint Commission for Accreditation Certification (JCAC).

''At present, there are only three hospitals in India which have obtained JCAC accreditation. But there is a rush for obtaining certification from hospitals in India,'' JCAC Vice-President Dr John Helfrick told newspersons here yesterday.

Superspeciality hospital Wockhardt, Mumbai, Apollo Hospital, Delhi and Chennai, were the only hospitals in India which have been accredited by JCAC, an internationally recognised body formed to grant international standard status to hospitals world over.

Globally, 200 hospitals were certified by JCAC.

Dr Helfrick said that getting accreditation from JCAC was not an easy task as strict measures were adopted to study the functioning of a hospital. ''It takes at least 18 months to study a hospital and raise its level to that of international standards before being given accreditation,'' he added.

Wockhardt Hospitals Group Chief Executive Officer Vishal Bali said that after Wockhardt took the lead by becoming the first Indian hospital to get JCAC accreditation, the standard of services offered had been improving. The accreditation was becoming a must since foreign patients question about the standard of services provided and the accreditation.

Recalling Wockhardt's five-and-a-half-year association with Harvard Medical Institute, he said ''healthcare delivery is witnessing tremendous advancements. Our association with HMI and the knowledge we derive from the Harvard associated hospitals helps us to stay abreast with these developments in technology or clinical expertise.'' Wockhardt would soon open two more hospitals in Bangalore, besides the two already functioning, he added.

A team of doctors from HMI, currently on an India tour to engage Wockhardt doctors in knowledge exchange and learning sessions, included HMI Director (Clinical Services) Elizabeth Brown, International Society for Quality in Healthcare President Dr John Helfrick, HMI Vice-President (Global programs) Dr Harvey Makadon and HMI Director (Healthcare Quality) Sharon Kleefield.

UNI MSP GD AD RS0900