What does NABH accreditation mean in India?

The National Accreditation Board for Hospitals & Healthcare Providers (NABH) runs healthcare accreditation and related programmes in India. It is a constituent board of the autonomous Quality Council of India (QCI), and NABH's programme overview distinguishes its award categories.

Who runs it and is it the government?

NABH operates within QCI, which is a quality body rather than a medical licensing council. Its awards should not be treated as a substitute for state clinical-establishment requirements or an individual doctor's registration.

The programmes serve hospitals, small healthcare organisations and other defined facilities. Ask for the exact programme name. Full hospital accreditation, entry-level certification and empanelment have different meanings, even when the same NABH name appears on the paperwork.

What does it assess and for how long?

Assessment addresses clinical and administrative quality and safety. The process includes application, self-assessment, external assessment, closure of identified non-conformities and surveillance. NABH's hospital-accreditation programme describes the hospital route.

NABH's FAQ says most accreditations are valid for three to four years, with a mid-cycle surveillance assessment. Use the actual programme and certificate to establish the period that applies to your hospital. Do not assign one term to every NABH product. NABH's hospital FAQ explains the general validity arrangements.

NABH also holds organisation-level IEEA recognition for June 2022 to June 2027. That period concerns NABH as an evaluator. It is separate from the award dates of the hospital you are checking.

How do I find a clinic in its register?

From NABH's website, open the accredited-organisations directory. Choose the programme, then use the state, city and organisation name to locate the provider. Read the status, scope and expiry in the result.

If the directory does not display or the certificate uses a different programme label, ask NABH to confirm the award directly. Give it the hospital's name and certificate details. Ask specifically whether the claim concerns full accreditation, entry-level certification or empanelment.

What does it not tell me?

Entry-level certification is not full hospital accreditation. A NABH award also does not replace facility-registration requirements or establish the treating doctor's licence. The India doctor-check page explains those professional checks.

Use How to check any mark in five minutes before relying on the certificate.

Checked on 23 October 2026.