In an initiative to promote sustainable healthcare delivery and create a benchmark for performance in operation theatres (OT) across India, Abbott India joins hands with Bureau VERITAS Certifications (India) Pvt. Ltd. to provide a first of its kind accreditation for using green and safe practices in operation theatres.

The Green OT certification project is a first in the world certification and also the first ‘Make in India’ certification protocol developed by Bureau VERITAS in conjunction with Abbott India and multi hospital stakeholders like clinicians, bio-medical, hospital QA, Green House Gas surveyors, administrators etc.

Surgical care is an integral part of health care throughout the world, with an estimated 234 million operations performed annually1. Every year, many millions of people undergo surgical treatment, and surgical interventions account for an estimated 13 per cent of the world’s total disability-adjusted life years (DALYs)2. While surgical procedures are intended to save lives, unsafe surgical care can cause substantial harm.

Green from an OT perspective covers all parameters like air flows, OT set up, anesthesia machines, types of volatile agents used, filling systems adopted and scavenging systems in place. Green connotes cleaner techniques using modern technology and processes with a sensitive approach to environment.

As a part of the process Bureau Veritas conducted independent assessments/ audits of the hospitals that focussed on prevention of surgical site infections, safe anesthesia, safe surgical teams and equipment and a measurement and quality assurance mechanism. The process will conclude with a “Green Score” based on a 5 point scale that would be rewarded to the certified hospitals who meet the requisite quality and safety standards.

Emphasising on the importance of the Green OT certification, Mr. Shyamakant Giri, Country Manager, Abbott India said, “Abbott has always partnered with the international and local agencies, patient organisations and government departments to address urgent health issues and unmet patient needs, supporting them in leading healthy lives. The term safety is equally important for the health care systems and patients. Despite the brief amount of time patients generally spend in an operating theatre, this is an environment that plays a great role in the onset and spread of infections. Hence it is essential to create benchmarks in the safety and efficacy levels of operation theatres”.

Elaborating on the need for this certification in India Mr. Naresh Gupta, Regional chief executive South Asia, Bureau VERITAS said, “Worldwide, accreditations form the basis for assuring patients that safety and benchmark quality standards are being met. In India too, increasing patient education levels and awareness as well as the growing quantum of medical tourism are leading to the rapid adoption of accreditation. International patients and Indians alike, who seek medical treatments, are mostly concerned with the quality of treatments and also want that the service providers preferably be accredited by a recognised international organisation that audits medical quality”.

Abbott plans to take this initiative to hospitals across India, pledging its constant support to promote sustainable healthcare delivery in the country.