By Kashmir News Corner 
Initiative aimed at strengthening quality standards across J&K laboratories
Srinagar, Nov 20 (KNC): In a significant push toward enhancing healthcare quality in Jammu & Kashmir, the Department of Biochemistry, Government Medical College (GMC) Srinagar, and SMHS Hospital, in collaboration with NABL and the Quality Council of India (QCI), on Thursday organised a day-long awareness programme on “NABL Accreditation for Medical Laboratories.”
The inaugural ceremony was graced by Prof. Iffat Hassan Shah (Principal/Dean, GMC Srinagar); the Guest of Honour, Dr. Jehangir Bakshi, represented by Dr. Nighat (Deputy Director, Health Services Kashmir); Mr. Mohammad Ashraf Hakak (Administrator, GMC & Associated Hospitals); Prof. Syed Taffazaul Hussain (Former HoD, Biochemistry) who was awarded life time excellence award and Dr. Andleeb Bashir (Medical Superintendent, SMHS Hospital).
Heads of Departments from GMC Srinagar and laboratory-related departments from GMCs Anantnag, Baramulla, Kathua, and Handwara, along with Medical Superintendents of various tertiary-care hospitals, reflected strong system-wide commitment to advancing accreditation standards in the Union Territory.
Ms. Mallika Gope, Director NABL, delivered the keynote address, outlining the national vision for strengthening laboratory quality systems.
Ms. Ritu Kulshreshtha, Joint Director NABL, led detailed technical sessions on ISO 15189:2022 requirements, documentation, M(EL)T Lab processes, and the online accreditation workflow.
Addressing the gathering, Prof. (Dr.) Sabhiya Majid, Organizing Chairperson and Head of the Department of Biochemistry, GMC Srinagar, stated, “NABL accreditation is not just a certificate; it is a commitment to excellence.
Our SMHS Biochemistry Laboratory stands as a beacon in the government sector, being among the few that took the lead in securing NABL M(EL)T accreditation over the past three years.”
She emphasised the need for continuous quality improvement, structured training, and professional accountability to motivate more laboratories across J&K to adopt accreditation standards.
As Chairperson of the State Allied Healthcare Council–JK, she reiterated the importance of standardization across government and private diagnostic services.
The event comes at a crucial time, as the SMHS Biochemistry Laboratory remains one of the leading government-sector laboratories working toward internationally recognised standards of reliability and trust in diagnostics.
The programme is expected to accelerate the adoption of accreditation practices across healthcare institutions, paving the way for more standardized, accurate, and patient-centric laboratory services in the years ahead. (KNC)