National Accreditation Board for Hospitals & Healthcare Providers (NABH) is a constituent board of the quality council of India, which is set up to establish, accredit, and operate accreditation programmes for healthcare organizations. NABH was set up in 2005, to set benchmarks for the progress of the health sector in the country and to cater to the needs of its consumers. It is a constituent board of the Quality Council of India (QCI). It has full functional autonomy and is supported by all the stakeholders including the consumers, the industry, and the government. 

The first NABH accreditation system was established in 2006 and newly revised editions are introduced every three years. The fourth edition of NABH standards (released in December 2015) is in use currently and the next edition of NABH standards is set to be introduced and implemented from April 2020 onwards.

The fourth edition (2015) standards are divided into 10 different chapters. They are:

• Access, Assessment, and Continuity of Care

• Care of Patients (COP)

• Management of Medication (MOM)

• Patient Rights & Education (PRE)

• Hospital Infection Control (HIC)

• Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI)

• Responsibilities of Management (ROM)

• Facility Management & Safety (FMS)

• Human Resource Management (HRM)

• Information Management System (IMS)

The certification process assesses the quality systems and operational systems that are in place within the facility of the applying facility. The applicant must comply with the NABH standards and the applicable rules and regulations. The certification is for a period of two years only, after which, the applicant should apply for renewal.

The documents required for application for NABH accreditation are as follows:

• Hospital Manual

• Hospitals & Committee Book

• Department-Wise Manuals

• System Procedures

• Process Approach for Hospitals

• Standard Operating Procedures

• Sample Form & Templates

• System Procedures

• Health & Safety Procedures

• NABH Audit Checklist

NABH accreditation is advantageous to all the stakeholders involved. It assures the patients of high quality of care and high standards of safety. They get services from credential medical staff and their rights are respected and protected. Patient satisfaction is also regularly evaluated. The medical staff in an accredited medical organisation are also provided with a good working environment, able leadership, ample opportunities for continuous learning and improvement, and most importantly, the ownership of clinical processes. The accreditation of a health care organisation stimulates continuous improvement of quality and care and enables the organisation to demonstrate the commitment to quality care. It provides the organisation to benchmark with the best in the industry. It also provides an objective system of empanelment by insurance firms and other third parties. NABH accreditation provides reliable information on the available facilities, infrastructure, and level of care at a health care organisation.