Now,Indian Quality Council to certify spas

December,QCI Secretary General Girdhar Gyani told The Indian Express.

According to the QCI,experienced doctors using standard ayurvedic products should be appointed by all spas. “Unethical practices such as using several non-standard techniques for therapy and massaging should be discarded. At present,there is no check on activities at healthcare clinics and spas,” said Gyani.

Preliminary standards for wellness and healthcare were launched during 2008,but overlapping with the standards of other bodies led to confusion. To solve this issue,QCI will now launch the final edition soon,Gyani said.

“Schools,hospitals,laboratories,blood banks,and even the spas will be accredited from next year onwards. The repackaging of ancient healing practices for a modern consumer base is best typified by spa resorts. The concept of a spa is in fact ‘wellness’ in its purest form. But spas have mushroomed at every mall in the city. Mostly high society people opt for spa as a parallel treatment alternative. Our standard is not mandatory,but people opting for this should understand to choose those spas that are accredited,” he added.

He said there are many unethical claims made by spas and several grievances are made to QCI on this issue. With an unbridled growth in the wellness market,it is important to develop a mechanism where a body accredits the spas.

“There are a number of spas in Kerala,Maharashtra,Mumbai,Pune and Karnataka and their services should be inspected in terms of treatment,staff and service to the customers,” he said,adding that the accreditation will serve as an assurance of quality services to the consumer.

Charmie Haria,founder of Aikya Ayurveda Clinic in Ahmedabad,said: “It is good news that QCI is taking this initiative. It is very important for healthcare clinics and spas to have qualified ayurvedic doctors. Proper hygiene should be maintained,which is not the case at present in most spas. More than massaging,therapeutic services should be promoted.”

Gyani said: “It is not always feasible and economically viable for small Indian wellness operators to obtain accreditation from international agencies. Therefore,we felt a strong need to frame an Indian standard at par with international standards,which could be implemented by all in our industry.”

Gyani added that QCI officials are the members of the committee framing the Clinical Establishment Act that will be tabled in the coming Assembly session. The Act will make it compulsory to standardise all hospitals and laboratories.

Accreditation for Civil Hospital blood bank
The Ahmedabad Civil Hospital blood bank is all set for accreditation next month by NABH,said Dr J L Meena,Gujarat state quality assurance officer,Department of Health.

Dr Meena said: “There is only one private blood bank in the state that has been accredited. After the Ahmedabad Civil Hospital Blood Bank is accredited,all blood banks affiliated to the five medical colleges in the state will be accredited.”