National Accreditation Board for Hospitals & Healthcare Providers (NABH)

Introduction

National Accreditation Board for Hospitals & Healthcare Providers (NABH), a constituent board of the Quality Council of India (QCI) has been setup to establish and operate accreditation programs for hospitals, health care organizations and sets benchmarks for the progress of the health industry. NABH has quite a unique governing body which has representatives from Government of India, Public Health, Private Hospitals, Private Associations like CII, ASSOCHAM, FICCI, etc.

International Linkage

NABH is an Institutional Member as well as a Board member of the International Society for Quality in Health Care (lSQua).
NABH is a member of the Accreditation Council of International Society for Quality in Health Care (ISQua).

NABH is on board of Asian Society for Quality in Healthcare (ASQua).

Vision

To be apex national healthcare accreditation and quality improvement body, functioning at par with global benchmarks.

Mission

To operate accreditation and allied programs in collaboration with stakeholders focusing on patient safety and quality of healthcare based upon national/international standards, through process of self and external evaluation.

Values

Credibility: Provide credible and value addition services

Responsiveness: Willingness to listen and continuously improving service

Transparency: Openness in communication and freedom of information to its stakeholders

Innovation: Incorporating change, creativity, continuous learning and new ideas to improve the services being provided

Achievements

NABH as an organisation is ISQua Accredited which is valid till July 2022

NABH Accreditation Standards for Hospitals, 5th Edition are also accredited by ISQua which is valid till April 2024

The Beginning

An initiative to set standards for Healthcare Organisations (HCO) in order to promote medical tourism in India was put forth by the ministry of tourism. This proposal was made to the Quality Council of India (QCI) to frame the accreditation standards for healthcare organisations with a vision of developing a system in India to ensure quality and safety in health care services that meet the global standards.

Quality Council of India was set up by the cabinet committee as a non-profit autonomous society registered under Societies Registration Act XXI of 1860 to establish an accreditation structure in the country and to spread quality movement in India by undertaking a National Quality Campaign. QCI functions under the Department of Industrial Promotion and Internal Trade in the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India. The formation of NABH was a result of a question raised in the Parliament of India on having a board to monitor quality activities in India and as a result, resolution to form NABH was approved in the QCI -15th GB MOM dated 10th March 2005 and 7th Annual meeting of QCI dated 11th April 2005.

The National Accreditation Board for Hospitals and Healthcare Providers or NABH began its journey in the year 2005 with a vision of developing a system in India to ensure quality and safety in health care services, which meet the global standards. NABH is structured to cater to the needs of the consumers and sets standards and benchmark for the progress of the Indian Health Industry and provide a boost to Medical Tourism. NABH started accrediting healthcare organizations in 2006 in India and expanded its wings to International Accreditation in the year 2010.