Standardisation of procedures to ensure that it meets international quality standards is the hallmark of any world-class organisation. That is the reason why enterprises strive to set high standards for themselves and adhere to them. International Organization for Standardisation also known as ISO is a non-profit organisation and is a non-governmental body by nature. They establish international safety and quality standards that are accepted globally. Possessing an ISO certificate is considered a cornerstone of achievement.

ISO is needed in the healthcare industry because of several reasons.

• Healthcare is easily accessible. With all aspects such as quality care, health services, cost-effective solutions and safe medical equipment and practices being very affordable nowadays, standardization is necessary to ensure quality.

• Individuals and communities alike can receive the highest quality treatment and care they deserve thanks to the implementation of ISO health standards.

• Organizations and businesses that implement and apply ISO standards demonstrate a proactive commitment to the ideals of quality, openness, accountability, and safety.

• ISO standards make it easier to share information, aggregate data, compare health services, and protect a person’s health privacy.

The implementation of ISO standards creates a standard framework for maintaining quality standards.

Industry:

 ISO standards are strategic instruments that assist firms obtain a competitive edge by providing safe, dependable, and trustworthy products and services.

Consistency is ensured by the implementation of ISO health standards. National governments, Healthcare providers, and manufacturers profit from not having to meet numerous market demands and criteria.

 Regulators

ISO standards give instruments for assessing and evaluating conformance, giving health policy a firm technological foundation.

Regulators can rely on internationally standardised solutions that are examined and updated on a regular basis to offer the technical foundation for market-friendly policies that fulfil citizens’ expectations.

 Consumers

ISO standards aim to standardise the healthcare sector in order to minimise costs while also improving access to care and efficiency.

ISO standards protect the interests of consumers by providing high-quality care and safe and dependable products and services.

Data privacy being priority at all levels, ISO standardization helps setting up of benchmarks and protect the consumer interest.

Some of the Health sector areas that implement ISO Standards include –

• Dentistry
• Sterilization of healthcare products
• Equipment used for transfusions
• Traditional Chinese medicines
• Medical devices
• Healthcare organization management
• Surgery
• Surgical implants
• Infusions and injections
• Health informatics
• Optics
• Assistive products

The advantages of ISO 9001:2015 certification for the hospitals are as follows:

• Internal audits and management reviews are conducted on a regular basis.

• Control and measurements of the suppliers.

• Conduct periodic customer satisfaction surveys and verify that preventative measures are implemented.

• Corrective action methods that are standardised and formalised.

• Risk management and assessment ensure that no unprecedented event takes place.

• Continual improvement through process improvements and increased productivity.

ISO standards ensure quality and safety in products and services offered by the healthcare industry. Businesses can optimise costs by improving systems and procedures.  The ISO standard demonstrates your commitment to standardisation, consistency, continuous improvement and patient delight. These are tangible, measurable benefits that help to create a sustained culture of high performance. The ISO 9001 standard provides the benchmarks for a quality management system that enables healthcare providers to provide superlative healthcare that meets the needs of patients while managing the statutory and regulatory requirements. It serves as a hallmark of the superior service standards that your organisation strives to live by.

Dr.Chinmaya P Chigateri

Director and CEO

Healthminds,Bengaluru

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