The National Accreditation Board for Hospitals & Healthcare Providers (NABH) is a constituent board of the Quality Council of India, established to operate accreditation programs for healthcare organizations. It was formed in 2005 and is headquartered in New Delhi. NABH accreditation is equivalent to international standards such as JCI, HAS, Australian Council on Healthcare Standards, and others. The standards of NABH have been accredited by ISQUA, making NABH accreditation at par with the worlds leading hospital accreditation.
The NABH accreditation system was established in 2006, and the first edition of standards was released in the same year. The standards have been revised every three years, with the 5th edition of NABH standards released in August 2020. More than 838 hospitals in India have achieved accreditation by NABH, with the first hospital being B M Birla Heart Research Center. NABH accreditation aims to ensure that healthcare organizations not only perform evidence-based practices but also give importance to access, affordability, efficiency, quality, and effectiveness of healthcare. It also contributes to the upliftment and betterment of services to all stakeholders, including patients and the public, as well as the hospital and its personnel.
NABH holds seats on key Professional and Technical Advisory Committees (PTACs) within The Joint Commission, and it also participates in The Joint Commission’s Liaison Network. NABH has been playing a leadership role in efforts that have led to The Joint Commission’s core measures for inpatient psychiatric services.
In summary, NABH accreditation is a significant process that ensures the quality and effectiveness of healthcare organizations, contributing to patient safety and the overall improvement of healthcare services.
