Government Launches QR-Coded ‘Mark of Quality’ to Verify Labs, Hospitals and MSMEs

The government made a significant and decisive move on Wednesday. The Quality Council of India (QCI), under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, introduced a special "QR-coded Mark of Quality" for laboratories, hospitals, and Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises.

This will affect transparency between the public and the markets. According to QCI, the primary objective of this initiative is to empower citizens. Until now, it was difficult to identify institutions operating in the market using fake or expired certificates, but the implementation of this QR code system will ensure 'full disclosure'. Once a citizen scans the QR code on an institution's certificate, they will immediately know whether the accreditation of that lab, hospital, or MSME unit is genuine. This step will not only protect consumers from fraud but also enhance the credibility of institutions that are operating honestly.

To maintain transparency and accountability, QCI has also brought in a new initiative called "Quality Setu." Quality Setu is a secure ticketing portal, which was created with the purpose to address service complaints immediately. This means that if any person has a complain against services or quality, that complaint will be heard within a stipulated time period.

Moving towards Digital India and "Ease of Doing Business," QCI has made another important announcement. Until now, institutions had to navigate multiple portals to obtain accreditation. To eliminate this hassle, a "single, paperless, and modern accreditation platform" will soon be launched. This 'one-stop' platform will replace all the existing different portals, making the entire process paperless and extremely easy.