Terms starting with N

NABH

The National Accreditation Board for Hospitals and Healthcare Providers (NABH) is India's principal healthcare accreditation body, operating under the Quality Council of India, which evaluates hospitals against standards encompassing patient rights, clinical care, infection control, and organisational governance. NABH accreditation is a key indicator of quality systems for the millions of international patients who travel to India for medical treatment.

NABL

The National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL) is an Indian government-backed accreditation body that assesses medical and other testing laboratories against international standards, primarily ISO 15189 for medical laboratories. NABL accreditation assures patients and clinicians that a laboratory's diagnostic results are produced under a rigorous quality framework.

Nadir

In oncology, the nadir refers to the lowest point of blood cell counts, particularly white blood cells (neutrophils) and platelets, which occurs approximately 7–14 days after a cycle of chemotherapy as the bone marrow is temporarily suppressed. Patients are at greatest risk of serious infection and bleeding during the nadir period and require close monitoring.

National Contact Point

Under the EU Cross-Border Healthcare Directive, the body in each EU member state designated to provide information to patients on receiving healthcare in another member state. The National Contact Point covers patient rights, reimbursement entitlements, quality and safety standards, and complaint procedures.

In medical tourism: EU patients planning treatment in another EU member state should consult their home National Contact Point before travel and the destination National Contact Point on arrival. Both can advise on reimbursement and complaint pathways.

No-Fault Compensation

A system of medical injury compensation in which a patient who suffers harm as a result of medical treatment can receive financial redress without needing to prove negligence on the part of the healthcare provider, as is the case in countries such as New Zealand and the Nordic states. It reduces the adversarial nature of medical dispute resolution and typically results in faster compensation for injured patients.

Notified Body

An organisation designated by an EU member state to assess the conformity of certain products, including medical devices, with EU regulations before they can carry the CE mark. For implantable devices such as breast implants, dental implants, and orthopaedic prostheses used in EU countries, the Notified Body number on the device passport identifies which conformity assessor approved that specific product line.

NPO

Nil per os (Latin for 'nothing by mouth') — the pre-operative fasting status required before procedures under sedation or general anaesthesia. Modern guidelines from most anaesthetic societies permit clear liquids up to 2 hours pre-op, breast milk up to 4 hours, light meals up to 6 hours, and heavy/fatty meals up to 8 hours. Patients should follow the specific NPO instructions from their treating anaesthetist; ignoring NPO instructions is a common cause of procedure cancellation.