In a significant move to strengthen India’s healthcare quality framework, the National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL) has introduced a digital Medical Application Portal for laboratories applying under ISO 15189:2022 standards. This initiative, unveiled during the virtual event “GOING LIVE” on August 19, 2025, aims to enhance transparency, efficiency, and ease in the lab accreditation process.
What Is ISO 15189:2022 and Why It Matters
ISO 15189:2022 is an international standard that lays down quality and competence requirements for medical laboratories. Accreditation under this standard ensures that labs function with consistent accuracy, reliability, and safety in diagnostic testing, which is crucial for India’s healthcare delivery systems.
Digitizing the application process for ISO 15189:2022 accreditation will bolster India’s healthcare infrastructure by expediting approvals, minimizing errors, and ensuring better compliance.
Portal Highlights: Features Designed for Efficiency
- Restructured application flow: Simplifies form-filling and status tracking.
- Standardized document templates: Reduce confusion and errors.
- Pre-registration checklist: Comprehensive readiness assessment.
- Intuitive interface: User-friendly with clear navigation.
- Multi-user access: Allows different personnel to securely perform assigned tasks.
These enhancements enable routine application tasks that previously took weeks or months to be completed in just 2–3 hours, as per QCI Chairperson Shri Jaxay Shah.
Benefits for Laboratories and Healthcare Sector
- Speed: Quicker accreditation cycles with faster application processing.
- Transparency: Real-time application tracking ensures labs are updated at each step.
- Accountability: Multi-user access allows better internal checks and document verification.
- Cost-effectiveness: Digital processing reduces administrative and logistical overhead.
- National Reach: Labs from any part of India can access the system without physical dependency on regional offices.
This launch is expected to result in more accredited labs, enhanced diagnostic reliability, and improved patient outcomes.
Key Takeaways for Competitive Exams
- NABL introduces a digital Medical Application Portal for labs under ISO 15189:2022 standards.
- ISO 15189:2022 sets quality and competence requirements for medical laboratories.
- The portal features a restructured application flow, standardized templates, and multi-user access.
- Benefits include faster accreditation cycles, transparency, accountability, and cost-effectiveness.
- This initiative aims to enhance India’s healthcare quality framework and improve patient outcomes.
