Chhattisgarh Achieves Two Historic Milestones in the Field of Health Services

Chhattisgarh has achieved two historic milestones in the field of health services. The Integrated Public Health Laboratory (IPHL) at District Hospital Pandri has become the first quality-certified lab in the country, and the IPHL at District Hospital Balodabazar has become the second quality-certified lab in India.

Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai congratulated the teams, stating: “This achievement is evidence of the comprehensive, scientific, and structural reforms taking place in Chhattisgarh’s health system.”

Raipur, Nov 2025 : Chhattisgarh has secured yet another historic achievement in improving the quality of health services. The Integrated Public Health Laboratories at Pandri Raipur and Balodabazar district hospitals have received national-level quality certification under the Government of India’s National Quality Assurance Standards (NQAS). The Pandri Raipur IPHL is the first certified lab in India, while Balodabazar IPHL is the second certified lab at both the state and national level. This achievement highlights the state’s commitment to expanding quality health services and strengthening laboratory facilities based on scientific standards.

As a result of consistent efforts by the Government of Chhattisgarh to strengthen health services, a total of 832 health facilities across the state have been evaluated and certified on national standards between January 2024 and November 2025. These include health centres in remote regions like Chintagufa in Dantewada. Notably, this is the first time in India that such a large and systematic chain of laboratories in a state has been evaluated and certified, granting Chhattisgarh a distinguished place at the national level.

Both labs were evaluated by expert teams nominated by the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India. The Pandri Raipur IPHL was assessed on 10 September 2025, and the Balodabazar IPHL on 11 September 2025. The teams conducted a detailed review of lab function, patient-centric services, quality control, timely reporting, and safety processes. Pandri Raipur IPHL received a score of 90%, while Balodabazar IPHL received 88%, both falling under the “excellent” category of national quality standards.

The concept of an Integrated Public Health Lab aims to provide patients with all major diagnostic services — pathology, biochemistry, and microbiology — under one roof. This ensures faster and more reliable testing and reduces unnecessary dependence on expensive private labs. Being an integrated model, it provides affordable and accurate diagnostic reports in one place.

Pandri Raipur’s IPHL has become a model lab for the entire state, conducting more than 3,000 tests daily and offering over 120 different types of diagnostic services. Working on a ‘hub-and-spoke’ model, it tests samples received from various community and primary health centres across Raipur district. In emergencies, it has also tested samples from medical colleges and other districts.

Balodabazar IPHL is also rapidly emerging as a high-quality lab. It conducts 1,000–1,200 tests daily and offers over 100 lab tests. Equipped with advanced machines, trained technicians, and timely reporting systems, the lab is providing great relief to thousands of patients. People from rural and tribal regions no longer need to travel to cities or private labs.

The Ministry of Health has previously appreciated the Pandri Raipur IPHL model at the national level. Teams from more than 13 states have visited the lab to observe its functioning. The photo of the Raipur IPHL has also been featured on the cover page of the Government of India’s detailed guideline for Integrated Public Health Labs, and the model has been adopted as the guiding framework for the nationwide IPHL network under PM-ABHIM.

The quality evaluation process in Chhattisgarh is not limited to certification but is a concrete step toward permanent systemic improvement. NQAS standards require strict adherence to cleanliness, safety, patient satisfaction, record management, technical quality, equipment calibration, biomedical waste management, and staff capacity-building. Both labs achieved excellence across all these criteria.

Dr. Priyanka Shukla, Commissioner-cum-Director, stated that NQAS is an important effort to institutionalise quality improvement in government hospitals. Certification is awarded only when an institution demonstrates consistent excellence across all parameters. The outstanding performance of both IPHL labs reflects the strength and commitment of the state’s health system.

She added that alongside expansion of health services, the state is focusing heavily on quality improvement. Lab technicians, doctors, and management teams have worked with dedication to achieve this milestone. The success of Pandri Raipur and Balodabazar IPHL will serve as inspiration, and the model will soon be implemented in other districts as well.

Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai and Health Minister Shyam Bihari Jaiswal have extended congratulations to the IPHL teams — doctors, technicians, and staff — of both district hospitals. The Chief Minister said that quality health services are the government’s top priority, and this national certification has strengthened the credibility of the state’s health system.

He added that the government is equipping primary and secondary health facilities with modern technology and trained personnel. High-quality labs like IPHL play a crucial role in ensuring timely diagnostics in rural, tribal, and remote regions. All district hospitals and major health institutions will be upgraded based on this model in the coming years.

This achievement is not just a certification but a sign that the state is moving toward a quality-focused health management system aligned with national standards. The expansion of the IPHL model will make diagnostic services more accessible, faster, and reliable, benefiting millions of citizens and improving the state’s health indicators. The success of these two IPHL labs stands as proof that scientific standards, skilled human resources, modern technology, and strong governance can bring about transformative change in health services — a model that can inspire the entire nation.