Staff Reporter
The Quality Council of India (QCI), an autonomous body set up by the Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Government of India, takes a leap in reach of quality from South to East as it inaugurated its Kolkata Office today. The inaugural ceremony was graced by Mr. Jaxay Shah, Chairperson of QCI; Dr. Ravi P. Singh, Secretary General of QCI; Padma Shri Prof. Subbanna Ayyappan, Chairperson of NABL; Padma Shree Dr. Mahesh Verma, Chairperson of NABH; along with the CEOs of NABL, NABH, NABET & NBQP and the Heads of the QCI Divisions of ZED, PADD, PPID & TCB. The inaugural also saw dignitaries from various accredited Laboratories, Hospitals and Industry Associations of Kolkata. L The primary objective of opening these Regional Offices is to foster collaborations with various Government departments, State Organizations, Industry Associations, Industry, and other stakeholders in the region along with increasing interactions with regional players.
At the heart of QCI’s mission lies the vision to instil quality as a core value within every individual across India. By expanding its reach across states, QCI aims to scale awareness, broaden activities, and establish a seamless mechanism for prompt response and grievance redressal for all stakeholders in the region. Therefore, after establishing its physical presence in Bengaluru, QCI has set foot in the Eastern region with Kolkata as its base to establish easy & continuous communication channels.
Speaking on the expansion, Mr. Jaxay Shah, Chairperson, QCI, said, “We are establishing permanent communication channels across different states so that regional stakeholders and associations can collaborate more effectively in order to foster a quality-first
environment in the region. We also appeal to the Government of West Bengal to join hands with the Quality Council of India to improve the quality of life of the citizens of the State. It will certainly boost the ultimate goal of reaching the masses with the message that people should ask for quality, whether going to hospitals, choosing laboratories, selecting schools or any other service.” Dr R P Singh, Secretary General, QCI, said, “The purpose of opening offices in different regions is to provide a seamless channel to regional stakeholders and associations to access information. QCI has taken up this step to ease the communication channels for the stakeholders present in that region. QCI’s objective has always been to nurture an ecosystem that values quality because if there is quality, the growth of the country will propel automatically.” “The Kolkata office marks a significant milestone, fostering lasting connections with laboratories and testing facilities in the region. By upholding the highest standards, we envision a future of trust and reliability in the domain of testing and calibration here, said, Padma Shree Prof. Subbanna Ayyappan, Chairperson, NABL.
Padma Shree Dr. Mahesh Verma, Chairperson, NABH, stated, “QCI’s expansion of its physical presence in the Kolkata exemplifies our dedication to fostering a healthcare ecosystem of excellence in the region. Through accreditation, we aim to ensure patient safety and quality care, forging strong bonds with healthcare providers.” Mr. N Venkateswaran, CEO, NABL, said, “Quality is the cornerstone of sustainable growth and the physical presence of NABL in Kolkata will ensure that the region is developing laboratories with quality as a key parameter in their growth. By partnering with stakeholders across West Bengal, we aim to enhance industry competitiveness, bolster healthcare standards, and elevate the overall quality of life for citizens.”
Dr. Atul Mohan Kochhar, CEO, NABH, averred, “This will certainly strengthen ties with healthcare stakeholders in the East. The HOPE programme of NABH will ensure quality assurance in the small hospitals as NABH certifies small hospitals to help them in maintaining quality standards while delivering healthcare services. Together, we will shape the future of healthcare by upholding the highest standards of accreditation and patient-centric care.”
“With the inauguration of QCI’s first office in the East, we embrace the opportunity to work hand-in-hand with educational institutions and training providers in the region. The physical presence in this region will foster a quality-first environment, thereby, encouraging more schools to accredit themselves with NABET”, said, Prof (Dr) Varinder S Kanwar, CEO, NABET.
“The aim of Quality Council of India (QCI) is to make quality an integral part of the nation’s DNA and opening regional Offices at the grassroots level is an effort to realize this vision. Quality is a fundamental right of every individual. We should demand quality and settle for nothing less. The myth that only expensive products/services are of quality needs to be broken ”, said, Dr. A. Raj, CEO of NBQP.
About Quality Council of India (QCI):
The Quality Council of India, established in 1997 by the Government of India and the Indian industry, is the apex organisation in India responsible for establishing and operating the third-party national accreditation system, improving quality across sectors and advising the government and other stakeholders on matters concerning quality. It has established constituent Boards that offer accreditation, which are: National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL); National Accreditation Board for Hospitals & Healthcare Providers (NABH); National Accreditation Board for Certification Bodies (NABCB); and National Accreditation Board for Education and Training (NABET). Its National Board for Quality Promotion (NBQP) is responsible for running the national quality campaign. The Secretary General of QCI, appointed by the Minister of Commerce & Industry, GoI, is Dr. Ravi P. Singh. The Chairperson of QCI, nominated by the Prime Minister of India, is Shri Jaxay Shah, CMD of Savvy Group of Companies.
