State Health Minister Shyam Bihari Jaiswal informed Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda about the achievement through an official letter. Congratulating the state, Nadda said the certification reflects the growing capacity of Chhattisgarh to deliver reliable, accurate and quality-assured diagnostic services through the public health system.

He noted that the Raipur laboratory has set new benchmarks in service delivery and strengthened public trust in government-run diagnostic facilities. “This achievement demonstrates that public laboratories can meet national quality standards comparable to, or better than, private diagnostic centres,” he said.

What is NQAS?

The National Quality Assurance Standards (NQAS) are defined by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India. These standards evaluate healthcare institutions and laboratories on parameters such as patient safety, accuracy of testing, infection control, biomedical waste management, trained manpower, infrastructure, and patient-centric services.

An NQAS-certified IPHL signifies that the laboratory adheres to nationally prescribed benchmarks across all stages — from sample collection and testing to reporting and data confidentiality.

Why the Certification Matters

Officials said the certification ensures that diagnostic reports generated by the IPHL are accurate, reliable and clinically trustworthy. The entire testing process follows standardised and safe protocols, supported by trained laboratory technicians, modern calibrated equipment, and strict infection-control measures.

For patients, the certification is expected to reduce the need for repeat testing, enable timely and accurate treatment, and lower dependence on costly private diagnostics. For doctors, it improves confidence in lab reports, aiding more precise clinical decision-making.

At the system level, the recognition strengthens flagship programmes such as PM-ABHIM and enhances the state’s eligibility for central technical and financial assistance.

Model for Other States

Calling the achievement a national benchmark, Union Health Minister Nadda suggested that the “Raipur model” be adopted as a best practice across other states. He urged the Chhattisgarh government to expand similar high-quality diagnostic services to additional districts.

Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai welcomed the recognition and thanked the central government for its support. He said the certification reflects the state’s commitment to strengthening public healthcare and assured continued expansion of quality laboratory and diagnostic services.

Health Minister Jaiswal described the certification as a historic moment for Chhattisgarh’s health system, attributing it to sustained improvements in infrastructure, standardisation, skilled human resources and quality assurance.