Accredited Hospitals In India: The Nabh Way

how many nabh accredited hospitals in india

The National Accreditation Board for Hospitals & Healthcare Providers (NABH) recognizes hospitals in India that meet certain performance standards. NABH accreditation ensures that hospitals provide high-quality care, maintain patient safety, and follow ethical practices. Various types of healthcare facilities can be NABH-accredited, including multispecialty hospitals, super-specialty hospitals, dental hospitals, eye care hospitals, AYUSH hospitals, and blood banks. The NABH Hospital List is essential for patients seeking quality healthcare services in India, and hospitals must meet specific criteria and standards to receive and maintain accreditation.

Characteristics Values
Number of NABH-accredited hospitals in India 1299
Year NABH was established 2006
First NABH-accredited hospital B M Birla Heart Research Center
First NABH-accredited public hospital Gandhinagar General Hospital
State with the highest number of NABH-accredited hospitals Delhi (89)
Number of parameters hospitals are assessed on Over 600

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NABH accreditation standards

NABH (National Accreditation Board for Hospitals & Healthcare Providers) is a board that falls under the Quality Council of India (QCI). NABH was established in 2006 with the goal of improving healthcare quality and patient safety in India. NABH accreditation is a quality assurance program that evaluates healthcare organizations based on a set of stringent standards.

The NABH accreditation standards cover a wide range of areas, including patient rights and education, clinical care, infection control, facility management, and human resource management. NABH-accredited facilities are required to uphold patients' rights and ensure they receive detailed information about their care. This includes transparency about treatment options, expected outcomes, and patients' responsibilities, fostering informed decision-making and patient empowerment. NABH standards emphasize delivering high-quality clinical care through evidence-based practices to minimize medical errors and adverse events, thus ensuring patient safety. NABH-accredited organizations must enforce stringent infection control protocols to protect patients and staff.

The NABH accreditation process involves a comprehensive evaluation of the hospital's or healthcare provider's services, infrastructure, patient care, and organizational practices. Hospitals are assessed on over 600 parameters, including patient-centred standards and operational standards. To comply with these standards, hospitals must adopt a process-driven approach in all aspects of their activities, from registration and admission to pre-surgery, peri-surgery, and post-surgery protocols, discharge, and follow-up care.

The benefits of achieving NABH accreditation are significant. It enhances the credibility and trust of healthcare facilities among patients and stakeholders, demonstrating their commitment to providing the best possible care. NABH accreditation also improves operational efficiency by streamlining processes and optimizing resource utilization, leading to reduced costs and improved organizational performance. Additionally, it provides a competitive advantage in the healthcare market, attracting more patients and skilled professionals. Furthermore, NABH accreditation assists healthcare providers in complying with national and international healthcare standards, ensuring that they remain updated with the latest global best practices.

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NABH accreditation statistics

As of 2019, the state with the highest number of NABH-accredited hospitals and Small Healthcare Organisations (SHCO) is Delhi, with 89. Maharashtra has the highest number of pre-accreditation entry-level hospitals and SHCOs at 512, and the highest number of hospitals and SHCOs with any level of accreditation at 597. Maharashtra, Delhi, Punjab, Telangana, Karnataka, and Uttar Pradesh account for over 50% of accredited hospitals and SHCOs.

The NABH accreditation system was established in 2006 as a constituent of the Quality Council of India (QCI). The QCI was set up by the Indian government in 1997 as the national body for accreditation and quality promotion. NABH is the principal accreditation for hospitals in India and its standards are accredited by ISQUA, the world's leading hospital accreditation body.

Hospitals are assessed on over 600 parameters, which are divided into patient-centred standards and operational standards. To comply with these standards, hospitals must adopt a process-driven approach to all aspects of their activities, from registration to post-surgery protocols and follow-up. The first step in the accreditation process is for the hospital to make its staff aware of the need for NABH accreditation and how to go about achieving it. The hospital must also set up a Quality Department to prepare SOPs, processes, protocols, and flow charts, which are used to create comprehensive working policies.

As of 2019, there have been a total of 335 applicants for hospital accreditation. To date, 1299 hospitals in India have achieved NABH accreditation. The first hospital to be accredited was B M Birla Heart Research Centre, and the first public hospital to receive accreditation in 2009 was Gandhinagar General Hospital.

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States with the highest NABH-accredited hospitals

As of 2024, there are 1299 NABH-accredited hospitals in India. NABH, or the National Accreditation Board for Hospitals & Healthcare Providers, is a constituent board of the Quality Council of India (QCI). NABH accreditation is a recognition given to healthcare organisations that meet certain performance standards. Hospitals are assessed on over 600 parameters, and the standards are divided between patient-centred standards and operational standards.

Several Indian states are home to NABH-accredited hospitals. Delhi, for instance, has several top-notch NABH-accredited hospitals. Similarly, Mumbai, known for its medical expertise, hosts numerous NABH-accredited hospitals. Other states and union territories with NABH-accredited hospitals include Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Chandigarh, Chhattisgarh, Goa, Gujarat, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Kerala, Ladakh, Lakshadweep, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Odisha, Puducherry, Punjab, Rajasthan, Sikkim, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Tripura, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and West Bengal.

While the exact number of NABH-accredited hospitals in each state is unclear, it appears that states like Delhi and Maharashtra, which includes Mumbai, may be among those with the highest number of NABH-accredited hospitals. These states are known for their advanced medical facilities and expertise, making it likely that they have a higher concentration of NABH-accredited hospitals compared to other states.

It's worth noting that the NABH accreditation system was established in 2006, and the standards are reviewed and updated regularly. Hospitals with NABH accreditation are committed to continuous improvement and providing the best possible care to their patients.

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The process of NABH accreditation

As of 2024, 1299 hospitals in India have achieved accreditation by NABH. NABH, or the National Accreditation Board for Hospitals & Healthcare Providers, is a board of the Quality Council of India (QCI) that was established in 2005 or 2006 to accredit healthcare organisations. NABH accreditation is a comprehensive quality assurance program that evaluates healthcare organisations based on a set of stringent standards. The QCI works under the guidance of the Ministry of Commerce.

The NABH standards cover a wide range of aspects, including patient rights and education, clinical care, infection control, facility management, and human resource management. The rigorous standards and processes put in place ensure that healthcare facilities adopt best practices, implement robust infection control measures, and prioritise the overall well-being of their patients. NABH-accredited hospitals and healthcare providers are required to demonstrate consistent clinical outcomes, which are regularly monitored and evaluated.

The NABH accreditation process encourages healthcare organisations to streamline their operational processes, optimise resource utilisation, and implement effective management systems. This leads to improved efficiency, reduced costs, and better overall organisational performance. Achieving NABH accreditation serves as a mark of distinction, signalling to patients, insurance providers, and the broader healthcare community that the organisation is committed to delivering high-quality healthcare.

  • The hospital prepares itself, its teams, and everyone in the organisation. The first step is making the staff aware of the need for NABH accreditation and how to go about it. The management has to keep interacting with them.
  • The hospital sets up a Quality Department. They prepare all the SOPs, processes, protocols, and flow charts on paper. With the help of these documents, complete working policies are created.
  • NABH lays down the pre-assessment guidelines and processes for the hospital, and they must comply with these.
  • Hospitals are assessed on over 600 parameters, with standards divided between patient-centred standards and operational standards.
  • To comply with these standard elements, the hospital will need to have a process-driven approach in all aspects of hospital activities – from registration, admission, pre-surgery, peri-surgery and post-surgery protocols, and discharge from the hospital to follow-up with the hospital after discharge.

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History of NABH

The National Accreditation Board for Hospitals & Healthcare Providers (NABH) is a constituent board of the Quality Council of India (QCI). NABH was established in 2005 as a founding member of QCI, with the aim of developing a system to ensure the quality and safety of health services in India and to meet global standards. NABH accreditation is a voluntary process for hospitals, clinics, and other healthcare providers in India to demonstrate their commitment to providing quality healthcare.

The accreditation process involves a comprehensive on-site assessment by qualified healthcare professionals, evaluating various aspects of a healthcare organization, including patient care, infrastructure, medication management, infection control, patient rights, safety protocols, medical records, and overall management. The hospitals are assessed on over 600 parameters, with the standards divided between patient-centred benchmarks and operational benchmarks. To comply with these standard elements, hospitals need to adopt a process-driven approach in all aspects of their activities, from registration and admission to pre-surgery, peri-surgery, and post-surgery protocols, discharge, and follow-up care.

NABH accreditation is a globally recognized hallmark of quality and safety in the Indian healthcare sector, signifying adherence to rigorous standards and best practices. It plays a crucial role in enhancing patient care, improving operational efficiency, and building trust among patients and stakeholders. As of March 2023, there were over 5,000 healthcare organizations accredited by NABH in India, with significant improvements noted in patient safety, quality of care, and efficiency.

NABH has also extended its accreditation program beyond India, with the government's international accreditation program helping healthcare organizations in other countries achieve high standards of quality and safety. The first edition of NABH standards was released in 2006 and has since been revised every three years. The current 5th edition, released in August 2020, is in use, with organizations requiring reassessment every two years to obtain a renewal certificate.

Frequently asked questions

As of 2019, there are 1,299 NABH accredited hospitals in India.

NABH stands for National Accreditation Board for Hospitals & Healthcare Providers.

NABH accreditation is a process for healthcare organisations to achieve accreditation by meeting certain standards. Hospitals are assessed on over 600 parameters, with standards divided between patient-centred and operational requirements.

NABH accreditation is considered to be at par with the world's leading hospital accreditation bodies. It ensures hospitals are prepared for all types of disasters, care protocols, and incidents.

The state with the highest number of NABH accredited hospitals is Delhi, with 89 hospitals.

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